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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



VETERINARY MEDICINE, 



ANIMAL CASTRATION, 



SURGERY HP OBSTETRICS 



SIMPLIFIED, 




LEONARD L. CONKEY, V. S. 
ft 

— SPECIALST IN— 

CRYPTOKCHIDE (RIDGLING), CASTRATION, SURGERY AND OBSTETRICS; INVENTOR OF 

"THE CONKEY PATENT HOBBLE BUCKLE," "THE CONKEY OPSTETRICAL SET," 

"THE CONKEY INCISIOR CUTTING FORCEPS" AND "THE CONKEY DOSE GUN." 



GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. 
VALLEY CITY ENG. AND PRINT'G CO. 
1890. 







C V 



COPYRIGHTED 1S90 

— BY — 

LEONARD I.. CONKEY. 



a/ 



1YI\s 



PREFACE. 



In preparing this work it has been with a desire to present to 
the public a practical Hand Book in plain terms, giving the causes, 
symptoms and treatment of the diseases and accidents common to our 
domesticated animals. This little book is expressly adapted to the 
use of stock growers and horse owners, as well as the farmers in 
general. 

For convenience I have divided this work into nine chapters, as 
follows : 

CHAPTER I. 

DISEASES— CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT. 

CHAPTER II. 

LAMENESS— CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT, WITH A FEW 
PRACTICAL HINTS ON SHOEING. 

CHAPTER III. 

VETERINARY SURGERY. 

CHAPTER IV. 

ANIMAL CASTRATION, AND TREATMENT OF THE DISEASEvS 
FOLLOWING IT. 

CHAPTER V. 

DENTAL SURGERY— THE AGE AS INDICATED BY THE TEETH. 

CHAPTER VI. 

THE EYE AND EAR. 

CHAPTER VII. 

OBSTETRICS— " DELIVERING THE MOTHER OF HER YOUNG," WITH 
DISEASES FOLLOWING. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

DISEASES OF THE COLT AND CALF. 

CHAPTER IX. 

VETERINARY MEDICINE, INCLUDING THE DOSE TABLE. 

Each chapter is illustrated with engravings produced especially 
for this work. Many of them are from pen sketches by the author 



The professional veterinarian has already at his command many 
large volumes treating on the domesticated animal. These, how- 
ever, devote much space to the consideration of subject familiar to 
the professional man only, with the free use of technical terms, mak- 
ing them "Greek" to the non-professional man. For this reason, 
I have not referred to physiology and morbid anatomy in this 
little work. 

The embryo of many principles advocated in this work were 
taken from the following standard authors: Professor Fleming, of 
London, Eng.; Professor Smith, of the Ontario Veterinary College, 
Toronto, Canada ; Professor Liautard, of the New York Veterinary 
College, U. S. A., and Professor V\ T . Williams, of Edinburg, Scot- 
land. These principles have been nursed by the Author through 
his many years of practice with flattering results. 

I sincerely hope that this work will be found useful, and that 
it will assist in promoting the science of veterinary medicine, surg- 
ery and obstetrics, which has for its object the benefit of man 
financially and the relief of our dumb animals directly. 

LEONARD L. CONKEY. 
Benton Harbor, Mich. 



VETERINARY MEDICINE 



CHAPTER I. 



Diseases, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment. 

THE PULSE. 

The pulse is the beating ol the arteries caused by the 
action of the heart by which we are able to distinguish differ- 
ent diseases, and can be best felt by placing the fingers on the 
sub-maxilliary artery about half way between the throat 
latch and lower lip on the inside of the lower jaw. In the 
cow it is best felt on the inside of the front leg just above the 
knee, while in the dog it is best found on the inside of the 
thigh, and the number of beats in the different animals are 
as follows: Horse, about 40 beats per minute ; cow, 40 to 45 ; 
dog, 80 to 100 ; while in the sheep from 70 to 80, and is 
found in same place as in the cow. 

TEMPERATURE. 



THE FEVER THERMOMETER. 

The warmth or degree of heat of the animal body is an 
index to health and disease. In health the normal temper- 



6 THE KEY TO PRACTICE 

ature per mouth is 98J, and per rectum 99! to 100. On ac- 
count of the animals biting the thermometer, the rectum 
is selected as the proper place to take the temperature. 
This is done by carefully introducing the thermometer into 
the rectum about two-thirds of its length, and allowing it to 
remain two or three minuies. The thermometers now in use 
are self-registering, so that there is no need of being in a hurry 
as the mercury will not go down until it is shaken, which 
must always be done before using. 

THE RESPIRATION (breathing.) 

The normal (natural) respiration (breathing) of the 
the horse is from twelve to fourteen times a minute if taken 
while standing quiet. This is done by placing the hand to 
the side, just in front of the hind leg, or it may be taken by 
the eye alone. The normal respirations of the cow are some- 
what slower than that of the horse, being ten or twelve times 
per minute. 

THE KEY TO PRACTICE. 

When once you become acquainted with the natural 
Pulse, Temperature and Respirations of the different lower 
animals, you will have the Key to Practice. Any noticeable 
change above or below this is indicative of disease. 

For example; when we have a quick, bounding pulse, 
say 60 to 80 beats per minute, we will give a sedative, aconite, 
digitalis, belladonna, etc. Then if we have a slow, weak 
pulse we will give a stimulant such as alcohol, amonia, S. S. 
niter, etc. Again, should we have an increase of temperature 
showing fever, we will give refrigerents as nitrate of potash, 
cold water, etc. Then should we have a fall of temperature 



CONGESTION OF THE LUNGS. i 

we will give stimulants such as whisky, spirits of turpentine, 
ammonia, etc. Thus you will see how very easy it is to treat 
the diseases of our domesticated animals when you have the 
key, i. e., Pulse, Temperature and Respiration. 

CONGESTION OF THE LUNGS 

Is a forerunner 01 inflammation, or pneumonia, and is the 
most common disease of the lungs. 

* Causes — Rapid exertion when the animal is not in a fit 
state is the most common cause. It is a sequel of catarrh, and 
if a horse is put to work too soon, it may follow influenza. I 
have seen horses take congestion from standing in a draft of 
air when heated and cool off too suddenly. 

SYMPTOMS. 

If from fast work, the symptoms are well marked ; the 
animal will be sluggish, tremble in the flank, will have 
labored breathing, the nostrils dilated, oppressed pulse: some- 
times very weak and indistinct, the lining of the nose and the 
white of the eye are reddened. By placing the ear to the 
side there will be heard a peculiar gurgling noise, the ears and 
legs are cold ; the breath also cold, but if the attack be a mild 
one the s-ymptoms may be indistinct. 

TREATMENT. 

This is rather a desirable di.-ease to treat, and generally 
terminates favorably. Keep the horse in good fresh air ; it is 
better to keep him out of doors than in a close stable ; 
blanket well and give stimulants. Give one ounce of sul- 
phuric ether with two ounces of whisky and a little warm 
water every two hours ; alternate with powdered nitrate of 



S INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS. 

potash in four dram doses until relieved ; give injections, per 
rectum, of soap and water, bathe the legs lightly with alcohol 
and hand rub them well, then bandage them with warm 
bandages. If the symptoms are relieved and the pulse runs 
high give tincture of aconite in 10 to 20 drop doses every 
two hours. Allow plenty of cold water — a little at a time 
and often. Give a few doses of quinine as a tonic. 

INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS. 

It may occur in either the acute or chronic form. It is 
not at all an uncommon disease. There are several stages of 
this disease, and it may terminate fatally at any stage. 

Causes. — Sudden change in temperature, improper venti- 
lation ; animals are more liable to it during the spring and 
fall than during the steady summer and winter weather; 
turniDg from a warm stable out to pasture, clipping and then 
exposing the animal to cold drafts, etc. 

SYMPTOMS. 

It is generally brought on by rigor (chill), when the 
shivering ceases heat takes place, that is, fever sets in ; ears 
and legs cold, then hot, or may assume the natural tempera- 
ture ; breathing somewhat affected, mouth hot and clammy, or 
sticky ; pulse generally oppressed and quick although they 
may be full, the horse persists in standing for the reason that 
the thorax cavity is larger than when lying down, giving 
more room for the lungs to expand ; the eyes are gener- 
ally of a glassy appearance, a kind of napping of the nostrils, a 
rather heavy sighing breathing, by placing the ear to the 
chest a crackling sound may be heard, bowels usually con- 
stipated, feces are usually covered with slime. If the horse 



looks around noticing things a good deal it is a good sign. 
The horse should be allowed plenty of pure air, and if turned 
loose you will see him go to an open door. The breathing 
varies to a certain extent, but not so much as might be sup- 
posed — he breathes about 10 or 12 times a minute. By-and- 
by the chest or thorax begins to fill with liquid called an 
exudate, the pulse quickens, numbering a hundred beats per 
minute or even more, the flapping of the nostrils and breath- 
ing increase in rapidity, there is a brownish discharge from 
the nostrils (this is a bad sign), breath smells bad, persists in 
standing, notices nothing, and as death approaches the pulse 
become imperceptible and the mouth cold. If an animal 
whose lungs are afflicted dies in from 12 to 24 hours after the 
first symptoms are noticed it is most likely to be from conges- 
tion. If the horse is to recover he wiil lift his head, look 
around and commence eating. Lung fever is generally satis- 
factorily treated; that is, with proper treatment they gener- 
ally recover. 

TREATMENT. 

Give from 10 to 15 drops of tincture of aconite alter- 
nately every hour with powered nitrate of potash, teaspoonful 
doses. You may relieve the distressing symptoms by giving 
tincture of opium ; give from one-half to one ounce at a dose. 
Encourage the horse to eat scalded bran mash, but if he re- 
fuses it then give him anything he will eat, but do not try to 
force him to eat. When you have obtained relief then give 
mild stimulants such as sweet spirits of niter in milk, or 
whiskey in milk, etc., giving a cooling laxative diet. If a 
cough should threaten use opium and digitalis. 

PLEURISY. 

This frequently exists in connection with lung fever, then 



10 PLEURISY. 

we have pleuro-pneumonia, which is a serious disease, gener- 
ally terminating unfavorably. 

Causes. — The causes are very much the same as in lung 
fever. 

SYMPTOMS. 

It usually begins with rigor (chill), pulse quick and 
fuller than in lung fever (pneumonia). The animal seems to 
sutler great pain, breathes quick, and unlike lung fever, he is 
apt to lie down ; if he coughs at all it will be a suppressed 
cough, ears and legs cold, or he may have one hot and the 
others cold and vice versa; there will be a line along the 
lower end of the short or floating ribs — a tucked up appear- 
ance. If you turn the animal around a little quick he will 
grunt or groan ; tapping him on the side with the hand will 
cause him to grunt and evince much pain. After a short 
period you may think the animal is getting better, as he may 
look around, breath easier, and to all appearance is better, 
but it you notice the pulse you will see that they are running 
up. This is at the time when what is generally termed dropsy 
sets in ; the chest commences to till with exudate (a watery 
substance), the belly and legs may and usually are swollen, 
about this stage of the disease the animal may take a little 
food, but you will readily see that it is not with a relish. 

TREATMENT. 

Clothe the body well according to the season of the year, 
place the animal in a well ventilated box stall, hand rub and 
bandage the legs, give cold water at short intervals — plenty of 
it if he will take it — and give the following as a drench : 

Sweet spirits of niter, 4 ounces ; fluid extract of bella- 
donna, 2 <o*Hiees ; tincture of gentian, 4 ounces ; mix, shake 
drams; 



PLEURO PNEUMONIA— THUMPS. 1 1 

well together. This makes four doses to be given in one-half 
pint of warm water every two hours. Try and get the ani- 
mal to eat the best of food and let him have it in small quan- 
tities, and it is best to put about two ounces of nitrate of 
potash in each pail of Avater that is offered him. 

PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 

'Although contagious in cattle it is not contagious in the 
horse. Causes and Symptoms are about the same as in 
pleurisy except that the animal persists in standing, and the 
treatment differs only in less sedatives and more stimulants. 

THUMPS. 

SPASMS OF THE DIAPHRAGM. 

Thumps is a very serious disease while it lasts, as the air 
cannot be taken in in a sufficient amount to supply the lungs. 

Causes. — Overwork, especially when the animal is not in 
fit condition ; long continued fast work, although he may be 
in good condition, may produce it ; a horse put to work on a 
full stomach is liable ; also horses recovering from any debili- 
tating disease. 

SYMPTOMS. 

The symptoms of thumps are so plain that you cannot be 
mistaken. The horse has a loud thumping sound as though 
some one was inside pounding with a hammer. 

TREATMENT. 

Take of fluid extract of digitalis i ounce, fluid extract of 
belladonna i ounce, alcohol 4 ounces. Mix and give two 



12 INFLUENZA. 

tablespoons full every two hours in a half pint of water until 
relieved. 

INFLUENZA 

Is a very common disease in the United States. It is a 
highly febrile disease and affects different organs of the body, 
the throat and lungs being more often affected than any other 
organ. When the liver is affected the white of the eyes have 
a yellow cast, and occasionally we have actual blindness from 
influenza. The whole mucous membrane (inside lining) of 
the intestinal canal is more or less affected. 

Causes. — Our best authorities, after discussing the prob- 
able cause of influenza, say that whatever the cause is it has 
not as yet been detected, and my idea is that the specific germ 
must be due to some atmospherical condition and travels 
through the air. As to the contagiousness of the disease, 
there is a great diversity of opinion. It might be best to 
keep the sick away from the well ones, but the same predis- 
posing cause that gives it to one horse will or may give it to a 
number at the same time. We find more horses affected in 
bank or basement barns with damp, wet floors than in any 
other stable. Stabling cattle in the same room with horses 
appears to favor the development of influenza poison. Influ- 
enza is most prevalent in the autumn, winter and spring 
months, but I have seen it in its worst form in the summer 
months. The young animals suffer most, although the aged 
are not exempt and often die from influenza. 

SYMPTOMS 

Depend much upon the organ affected. About the first 
symptons are dullness, lagging in the harness, sweat easily 



INFLUENZA. 13 

and pant or breathe quick on the slightest exertion, coat star- 
ing, mouth hot and dry, cough easily excited by grasping the 
throat, bowels usually costive and feces covered with mucous 
although the bowels may be looser than common, but this is 
not the rule. The pulse is quick, and in looking over my 
register find that the average in one hundred cases are pulse 
60, respiration 20, temperature 104 1 . In some cases we have 
an intermittent pulse showing that the disease is working on 
the nervous system. In such cases the breathing is not so 
much affected. Spinal complications are produced in this 
way. In other cases the breathing is much affected, the 
throat very sore, and by placing your ear against the windpipe 
near the breast you will hear a peculiar, unnatural sound. 
The legs and ears change in temperature very much, now hot 
and in an hour cold and vice versa. The general temperature 
will run up to 105 or 106. The eyes are sometimes of a red- 
dish or pink color owing to congestion. A light colored dis- 
charge from the nostrils is always a good symptom, but if it 
is of a rusty brown color it is a very bad sign. If the pulse 
is very changeable it is also a bad sign. Influenza may ter- 
minate in inflammation of the bowels (enteritis) and deaths. 
Any of the secreting glands may be affected causing dropsical 
swelling of the legs, belly, sheath, udder (bag of the mare), 
eyelids, nose, and the whole face and head are sometimes 
wonderfully swollen. In the first stages this is not a bad 
symptom, but if it appears in the last stages it is to be re- 
garded as a serious case. 

The patient usually persists in standing although he may 
lie down, which increases the labored breathing, but if he 
seems to by lying easy allow him to remain as it affords much 
relief. This disease has a tendency to affect the joints (arth- 
ritis); or it may terminate in (laminitis) founder, rheumatism, 



14 INFLUENZA. 

etc. Thus it will be seen that we have various forms of in- 
fluenza. 

TREATMENT. 

Give plenty of pure air. This we wish to impress upon 
your mind as an important part of the treatment. Clothe the 
body in accordance with the season of the year ; hand rub 
the legs and apply dry bandages. In summer a light sheet 
should be thrown over the horse to keep the flies off. Allow 
plenty of cold water, and it is a good policy to keep a pail- 
full where he can reach it at all times, as he will often take but 
a swallow and apparently wash out his mouth which seems to 
refresh him. Influenza will run its course in spite of medi- 
cine ; all we can do is to assist nature to throw off the poison, 
and for this you will give, in mild attacks, powdered chlorate 
of potash in two dram doses three or four times a day, liquor 
acetate of amonia, two ounces two or three times a day. Give 
a scalded bran mash once a day ; give plenty of strong, nutri- 
cious food, if he will not eat one kind offer another, but 
do not force food upon him as you are liable to destroy his 
appetite ; offer a little at a time and often. In severe cases 
you will give powdered nitrate of potash instead of chlorate, 
in from two to four dram doses every six hours ; tincture of 
aconite, tincture of digitalis, of each one ounce, give of this 
10 or 15 drops every six hours, liquor acetate of amonia two 
ounces every six hours, which will bring one of the medicines 
every two hours' alternately. Give rectinal injection of raw 
linseed oil, flour gruel, oatmeal, etc. This is absorbed into the 
system furnishing nourishment as well as acting as a laxative 
to the bowels. Apply the following liniment to the throat : 
Mix aqua amonia, spirits turpentine and raw oil — equal 
parts; make two or three applications at intervals of 24 



INFLUENZA OF THE DOG AND SHEEP. 15 

hours. When the animal begins to improve, which will 
be indicated by the eyes clearing up, the appetite returning, 
you will stop the aconite and give in its place one tablespoon- 
full of the following: Iodide of potash four ounces, water 
one pint. About this time you will discontinue the liquor 
acetate of amonia. The swelling of the legs and throat will 
gradually subside, Do not put the animal to work too soon, 
and when you do commence work be very careful for a while. 

INFLUENZA OF THE DOG. 

During the seasons when influenza rages as an epizootic 
we find many dogs affected. 

SYMPTOMS. 

The dog is rather sluggish, lying around, appetite poor 
or gone, throat swollen, tears running from the eyes, and per- 
haps a little matter in the corners of the eyes. 

TREATMENT. 

Nitrate of potash, one-half dram : quinine, two grains ; 
to be given three times a day before meals. If the dog should 
be very weak give an occasional dose of whisky. 

INFLUENZA OF THE SHEEP. 

Sheep are occasionally affected and we have seen quite 
large flocks go blind from the effects of influenza and remain 
so for a few days and then their sight would gradually return. 
There was a watery discharge from the eyes, a slight cough, 
appetite impaired. 

TREATMENT. 

Give powdered chlorate of potash one dram, quinine five 
grains, three times a day. Give laxative food, carrots, tur- 
nips, potatoes, etc. 



16 INFLUENZA OF THE HOG— STRANGLES. 

INFLUENZA OF THE HOG. 

Hogs are also subject to this disease. 

SYMPTOMS. 

Do not differ much from those in other animals. 

TREATMENT. 

Powdered nitrate of potash, one-half to one dram ; pow- 
dered nuxvomica, five to ten grains given in the slop three or 
four times a day to each hog of 75 to 100 pounds ; larger 
ones more and smaller ones less than this dose. In conclusion 
I will say that influenza is rather a satisfactory disease to 
treat, and with proper treatment the animal is as good as 
ever. There are, however, a few cases of influenza that the 
swelling of the throat is so bad that the aDimal may die of 
strangulation. The only remedy for such a case is called 
Trachea Otomy, (See Index), which means to cut a hole 
into the windpipe, thus forming an artificial opening through 
which the air reaches the lungs. In the hands of a skilled 
operator this is a very simple operation. 




STRANGLES 

Is a name given to what is generally called the old fash- 
ioned horge distemper. 

SYMPTOMS. 

About the first indications are manifested while drinking 



STRANGLES. 17 

by the water running out of the nose, appetite impaired, 
slight soreness in the throat and in the angle of the jaw, the 
animal will carry his head in a peculiar, unnatural way, 
saliva runs from the mouth; coat staring, tumors will soon 
form in the angle of the jaw, or the tumor may possibly be 
the first siga of the disease. There is usually a discharge from 
the nose. The breathing is considerable affected, which may 
not be in proportion to the size of the tumor, as the swelling 
or enlargement may be internal, and when affected with 
strangles and influenza at the same time there is great danger 
of suffocation, when you will have to resort to Trachea Otomy, 
for which (See Index.) Strangles usually runs its course in 
from 10 to 15 days, and in 20 to 30 days the animal is ready 
for work again. We sometimes have all those symptoms 
without the swelling of the throat, and in a few days we find 
a swelling in the groin, on the shoulder, the hip or hock and 
various other parts of the body. This is called 

IRREGULAR STRANGLES. 

These tumors are the results of fever. Occasionally the 
animal will exhibit signs of great pain and lameness in one 
hind leg for several days before the forming of a tumor, and 
you are at a loss to know just what the ailment is. After an 
abscess forms the lameness and pain generally subside ; the 
patient often becomes a mere skeleton 

TREATMENT. 

Take of powdered nitrate of potash four ounces, p nv- 
dered chlorate of potash four ounces; mix. Give one table- 
spoonful three times a day on the tongue or in the feed, at the 
same time apply aqua amonia, terpentine and oil, equal parts, 



18 CATARRH. 

to the throat or swelling, rubbing in well two or three times 
a d'iij, until relieved or an abscess forms, which must be opened, 
making a large opening and poulticed. If the animal appears 
weak give one table-spoon full of powdered gentian three times 
a day on the tongue. Should it be unable to eat you must give 
rectal injections of oatmeal gruel, or raw lineeed oil. This is 
absorbed and assists in sustaining life. 

CATARRH 

Is a disease of the mucous membrane (lining) of the nose 
A congestion takes place, the irritation gives way to a watery 
discharge, which changes to white and then yellow in accord- 
ance with the severity of the disease. 

Causes. — Standing in a draft, cooling off too soon, change 
in temperature, etc. 

SYMPTOMS. 

At first a little dull or lazy, may not eat well, pulse is 
not much altered, slight ra : se in temperature. After the con- 
gestion passes off the discharge from the nose follows, aad 
may be profuse, and as we have a discharge from the nose in 
other diseases such as influenza, strangles, glanders, etc. You 
must watch the pulse and temperature closely. 

TREATMENT. 

Attend to the general comfort of the animal. A clean 
box stall well ventilated. Give nitrate of potash from one to 
one and one-half tablespoonsful three times a day with plenty 
of good, strong food of a laxative nature : do not allow the 
animal to run down in condition. If a cough is present bathe 
the throat and angle of the jaw with aqua amonia, turpentine 



LARYNGITIS. I 9 

and oil, equal parts. If the discharge from the nose con- 
tinues give chlorate of potash in tablespoonful doses three 
times a day for a few days, then give powdered iron sulphate, 
one teaspoonful twice a day. 

LARYNGITIS. 

Is an inflammation of the throat and sometimes ter- 
minates fatally in a short time. 

SYMPTOMS. 

Swelling of the throat hard and painful to the touch. 
If the pulse is very fast and the animal cannot swallow you 
have a very bad case ; the breathing hurried, bowels costive, 
urine scanty. In a day or two there will be a discharge from 
the mouth, which in the first stage is a good sign. The 
animal generally recovers in from a week to ten days, but the 
horse should not be put to work for some time as it is liable 
to terminate in roaring. 

TREATMENT. 

Plenty of pure air and cold water are very essential ; 
clothe the body according to the season of the year and band- 
age the legs. Then give internally: Powdered cholrate of 
potash, four ounces ; powdered nitrate of potash, two ounces ; 
powdered ipecacuan, two ounces ; mix. Give one tablespoon- 
full three or four times a day on the tongue ; also give one 
teaspoonful of fluid extract of belladonna three times a day, 
one or two hours after giving the other medicine. Externally 
you will apply the following to the throat and to the angle of 



20 



GIVING A BALL. 



the jaw, rubbing it well up toward the ears two or three times 
a day : Aqua amonia, spirits turpentine and olive oil, each 
two ounces. Mix and apply as directed. 




GIVING A BALL. 



First untie the animal and have an assistant stand 
on the right side with his left hand on the nose and 
the right hand on the back of the neck or crest. 
The assistant should endeavor to keep the head straight with 
the body. You will take the ball or pill in the fingers of the 
right hand as shown in the engraving. Then with 
the back of your left hand upwards gently work your fingers 
between the lips, touching the roof of the mouth. This will 
cause him to open the mouth, when you will grasp the tongue 
drawing it out a little, and give the hand a quarter turn. 
This brings the tongue under and over your hand, as shown in 
the drawing, which prevents the animal from closing 
the mouth. You will now pass the ball into the mouth, plac- 
ing it back over the root of the tongue. Withdraw the hand 
and let go the tongue, holding up the head for a moment. A 



GIVING A'. DRENCH. 21 

little practice will enable you to give a pill or ball before you 
could possibly get a drench ready, 

PHYSIC BALL. 

Barbadoes Aloes 8 drams 

Calomel 1 " 

Powdered Ginger 2 " 

Powdered Capsicum 1 " 

OR 

Barbadoes Aloes 8 drams 

Powdered Nuxvomica 1 " 

" Gentian 2 " 

" Podophyllin 1 " 

To either of the above you are to add molasses, glycerine 
or common soap enough to make a stiff mass, and give all at 
once in a ball. 

GIVING A DRENCH. 

First get the drench, an old chair or box, a common 
pitchfork and a piece of cord eighteen inches long ; tie the 
ends together forming a loop. Put this in the horse's mouth 
around the upper jaw, then with the pitchfork fixed in the 
loop raise the head just high enough so that the medicine will 
run down the throat. If you hold the head too high the 
animal cannot swallow so well. Get up into the chair with 
your left hand holding the halter, which prevents shaking the 
head. Take the drenching bottle in your right hand, place 
the neck of the bottle just inside of the lips and allow a little 
of the medicine to run down into the mouth ; do not push the 
bottle down into the mouth as far as possible, this not only 
irritates the animal, but endangers its life by the breaking of 
the bottle and swallowing the glass. Back the horse into a 



22 GENERAL REMARKS ON PHYSIC. 

stall or a corner that his hips may rest against something 
while giving a drench. This prevents him pulling back and 
breaking away. Do not jerk and abuse him, but go slow and 
careful, and you will get through more quickly. 

DRENCHING THROUGH THE NOSE. 

Never do this yourself, nor allow any one to do it for 
you. We cannot too strongly condemn this barbarous prac- 
tice of pouring medicine down the poor creature's nose. 

THE PHYSIC DRENCH. 

To either of the above add boiling water to dissolve, then 
add a little cold water to cool and give all at once as a drench. 
These prescriptions are intended for horses of mature years, 
and large horses on dry feed may require more, while small 
horses may require less. The weanling colt will require 
about one-eighth of the above dose, the yearling one-fourth* 
the two-year-old one-half, and the three-year-old three-quar- 
ters of the above doses. You must mix a little common 
sense with those remedies and you will get excellent results. 

GENERAL REMARKS ON PHYSIC. 

A scalded bran mash given twelve hours before a phytic 
will increase and hasten its action. You should always give 
a scalded bran mash immediately after a physic and withhold 
the hay for twelve to twenty-four hours. Give pure, fresh 
water freely, a little at a time and often, to all animals after 
administering a physic. Should a physic fail to operate in 
from 24 to 36 hours it is best to give one-half pint of good 
whisky and one-half dram of fluid extract of nuxvomica as a 



SUPERPURGATION. »o 

drench, and it might be well to give a little walking exercise 
about this time. 

HOW OFTEN TO REPEAT A PHYSIC. 

We will suppose that you have given the physic ball or 
drench, waited 36 hours and then gave the whiskey drench. 
You will now wait 36 to 40 hours longer when, if the bowels 
are not open, you are justified in repeating the physic ball or 
drench. 

SUPERP URG ATTON. 

THE BAD RESULTS OF PHYSIC. 

Superpurgation does not always depend upon the strength 
of the dose, but largely upon the condition of the animal at 
the time of its administration. In some animals a very small 
dose has produced superpurgation. Horses suffering from 
colds, influenza, etc., are easily purged. A full dose of aloes 
(eight drams) operating quickly is seldom followed by any 
bad results, while the same amount divided into two doses 
given some hours apart, is apt to be followed by serious results. 
In the first instance the quantity by its strength insures its 
own expulsion, while in the second instance the aloes is ab- 
sorbed into the circulation exciting the bowels to an extent 
sufficient to produce superpurgation. 

So long as the animal remains moderately lively, the pulse 
not much affected, the countenance natural, the appetite not 
much impaired, it is not necessary to take any active measures 
to restrain the purging, which is only the natural response of 
the intestines to the action of a physic, therefore it is danger- 
ous to check it too suddenly. Should you be alarmed give raw 
flour gruel to drink, and do not allow the animal to drink too 



24 HEAVES, OR ASTHMA— ECZEMA. 

freely of anything until the bowels are set. Colicky pains are 
to be treated with one-half ounce doses of tincture of opium, 
great care being taken that the purging is not checked too sud- 
denly. Should the purging continue after 24 hours it is to be 
treated the same as Diarrhoea, which see. 

HEAVES, OR ASTHMA. 

We will not enter into a lengthy discussion as to the 
causes and symptoms of this disease ; suffice it to say that it is 
incurable, but the symptoms may be relieved by the following . 

TREATMENT. 

Give a good physic composed of the following: Barba- 
does aloes, one ounce ; powdered nuxvomica, one dram ; pow- 
dered gentian, two drams. Make in a ball with glycerine or 
give in a drench. After the physic works off feed the animal 
good, clean food, bright hay, oats and corn Wet the hay 
and feed it in small quantities, and grain enough to keep the 
animal in condition. To relieve the distressing symptoms try 
one of the heave remedies. (See Index). Should you get no 
relief from the first remedy, after a week or two try another, 
for heaves are not always due to the same causes, and the dif- 
ferent forms require different treatment. 

ECZEMA 

Is an eruption of small vescicles on the skin, and is 
essentially a "hot weather" disease. It is often mistaken for 
mange. The first symptoms are dryness and itching about 
the neck, ears, back and tail. Then little vescicles or blisters 
appear. These sometimes burst and discharge a yellowish 



fluid, but more commonly they are absorbed, leaving dry 
scabs. The animal rubs himself against any convenient ob- 
ject until at times there are large raw sores along the neck or 
back. 

TREATMENT. 

Many authors say that eczema is very difficult to treat, 
and you are not likely to effect an entire cure. I think, how- 
ever, that if the proper treatment is applied, at least nine- 
tenths of those affected can be cured. First clip the animal, 
then scrub him with soap and water, rub him dry, and sponge 
the affected parts with the following: Take one pint of boil- 
ing water, add corrosive sublimate, two drams, allow this to 
cool and use just enough to moisten the sores once a day for 
three days. Then use white lotion as a wash for a few days, 
then use carbolic acid, one ounce, water, one pint, for a few 
days, then return to the white lotion again. 

INTERNAL TREATMENT. 

First give a physic ball or drench followed by a scalded 
bran mash, (withholding the hay for 24 hours). Then take 
iodide of potash, four ounces ; water, one pint ; mix. Give 
one tablespoonful three times a day in the feed until all is 
given, after which you are to prepare powdered starch, one 
pound ; arsenic, three drams. Mix thoroughly and give one 
tablespoonful in the feed three times a day until all is given. 
Repeat the physic once every two weeks until you have given 
three or four doses. 

LYMPHANGITIS, 

Monday morning fever, shot of grease, water tarcy, milk 
leg, etc. However, I shall call it lymphangitis when speaking 



2Q LYMPHANGITIS. 

of it in this chapter, giving you the most common causes, 
symptoms and treatment. This disease is common among heavy 
work horses, often brought on by allowing them to remain in 
the stable over .Sunday, giving the usual amount of feed with- 
out the usual exercise. A larger amount of nutritive material 
is formed than can be taken up, which sets up an irritation, 
and on Monday morning you find the affected limb swollen 
and perhaps hanging p endulous, hence the name Monday 
morning fever. Direct or indirect injury to the groin, slip- 
ping in the act of getting up in the stall; a prick or gravel in 
the foot is also liable to produce it. A newly purchased hoise 
is liable to it from the unusual amount of nourishing fuod 
given with a view to make him a little nicer. The first symp- 
toms are a rigor (chill) which may not be observed. A rise 
of temperature to 103 or 104°, breathing quick, pulse about 
sixty to eighty beats per minute, full and bounding. Appetite 
at first impaired, but usually returns in a day or so, bowels 
costive, urine highly colored, the desire for water usually in- 
tense, the limb is swollen, sometimes all around and sometimes 
on the inside only, a sort of a corded line from the groin to 
the hock joint. If you pass your hand along this cord it 
causes the animal to lift his leg quickly. The animal 
usually stand*, but he may lie down. Occasionally you 
may find a case where the animal looks at its sides as in colic. 
The leg will regain its natural size if properly treated. From 
repeated attacks the leg is enlarged, the lymph becomes organ- 
ized with, and is a part of the leg, and cannot be got rid of. 

TREATMENT. 

First give a strong purgative for the purpose of setting 
the excretory organs to work, that they may carry out the worn 
out matter which has been retained in the system. Barbadoes 



LYMPHANGITIS. 2 1 

aloes, eight drams ; powdered nuxvomica, one dram ; pow- 
dered ginger, two drains ; powdered calomel, one dram ; 
make into a ball or dissolve in one pint of boiling water, and 
give all at once. A larger horse will require about one-third 
larger dose. Then get one-half pound nitrate of potash and 
give one tablespoonful every four hours on the tongue ; also 
get of fluid extract of aconite, one ounce; water, one pint ; 
mix and give one tablespoonful every four hours alternately 
with the potash. This will bring one medicine every two 
hours. Give warm water injections per rectum every time 
you give a dose of medicine until the bowels move freely. If 
the bowels do not move freely in from 24 to 3(5 hours give one 
pint of raw oil containing two ounces of spirits of turpentine 
as a drench, and repeat the oil once a day until the bowels 
move freely. The diet must be carefully regulated. With- 
hold hay or other coarse food until the acute symptoms begin 
to subside Give a scalded bran mash morning and evening 
if the animal will take it, if not, give a quart of oats three 
times a day for a day or two, gradually increasing to the 
usual feed. 

EXTERNAL TREATMENT. 

If there is much pain bathe the leg three or four times 
a day with the following: Tincture of opium, four ounces; 
whisky, eight ounces. Bathe freely and hand rub for at least 
twenty minutes. As soon as the acute symptoms begin to 
subside you are to give a little walking exercise, but under no 
circumstances are you to move an animal suffering from an 
acute attack of lymphangitis. Rarely we meet with a case 
that in spite of medical aid an abscess will form on the leg, 
which will break and discharge puss. This is to be opened up 
with the knife that the puss may escape freely, then inject a 



28 SURFEIT— ITCH. 

little Wliiie Lotion once a day, bathing the leg freely with the 
lotion at the same time until it is healed. 

SURFEIT. 

This disease comes very quickly, and is generally the re- 
sult of faulty fettling; it may disappear as quickly as it 
comes. 

SYMPTOMS. 

Pimples or blotches of various sizes raise up on different 
parts of the body. This may follow laminitis (founder). It 
may be caused by drinking cold water when the animal is 
hot, or cooling < ff too suddenly. Overripe food is liable to 
produce it. 

TREATMENT. 

Give a Purgative Ball and in most cases as soon as the 
purgative acts the pimples will disappear. Give sweet spirits 
of niter, one or two ounces, once a day, or you may give pow- 
dered nitrate of potash, one tablespoonful ; powdered cam- 
phor gum, one teaspoontul, two or three times a day. Change 
your feed to a laxative diet. 

ITCH. 

Itching about the mane and tail. You sometimes have a 
horse that will rub his mane and tail until it is nearly all 
worn off. Upon close examination you will find no parasite 
as in mange. This may be the result of improper care, but 
is more likely to be the result of poor food, and may be a 
symptom of worms, when the tail alone is rubbed. This, how- 
ever, is an exception, and not the rule. Some say that it is 



MANGE. 29 

a symptom of lampas (an inflamed condition of the bars of 
the mouth), but this is not true. (See Lampas). 

TREATMENT. 

Give the turpentine drench, followed by scalded bran 
mash and laxative food. Externally wash the affected parts 
with strong soapsuds and rub dry, then bathe with the aqua 
corrosive wash once a day for three or four days ; wait a week 
and repeat. 

MANGE. 

Is due to parasites. It is an eruptive skin disease com- 
mon to all domestic animals, and transmissable from one 
species to another. The parasite or insects are of different 
kinds, varying in size and shape. Some burrow under the 
skin ; others just hold to the skin. Animals in poor condition 
are more liable to mange, but those in good condition will be 
attacked. The means of communication are various; by har- 
ness, saddle, brushes, etc, 

SYMPTOMS. 

Are indicated by the animal rubbing himself, the hair 
comes out easily, it is generally about the mane and tail. 
Eczema sets up more irritation than mange ; the symptons are 
similar, but eczema spreads more quickly. If you have any 
doubt as to the ailment, use the microscope. This is not a 
frequent disease among American horses, although I have 
seen a number of cases among the Texas ponies. 

TREATMENT. 

This is somewhat tedious. First wash the affected parts 
with warm soapsuds, rub moderately dry, then apply one of 



30 LICE— POULTRY. 

the following remedies: Carbolic acid, (full strength), one 
ounce ; water, one pint : or, corrosive sublimate, two drams ; 
water, one pint: or creosote, one ounce ; sulphur, one ounce ; 
lard, one pound, rubbed well together : iodide of sulphur, one 
ounce ; cosmoline, four ounces. In bad cases clip the hair 
from the affected parts and change remedies every two or 
three days, (rive iuternally the following : Arsenous acid, 
three drams ; prepared starch, one pound. Mix well and 
give one tablespoonful three times a day in the feed, which 
should be of a laxative nature. Groom well to keep the pores 
of the skin open. The same treatment is applicable to cattle, 
somewhat stronger; to sheep, a little weaker — and the carbolic 
acid is perhaps the best treatment for sheep. Mange affects 
the back, and eczema the belly of the dog. 

TREATMENT OF MANGE IN THE DOG. 

Clip the hair off of the affected parts, wash well with soap 
and water, rub dry and apply carbolic lotion or blue oint- 
ment. Do not cover too large a surface at one time, as it is 
apt to be absorbed and produce poisoning. Cover a small 
surface, then in a few days a little more until you have cov- 
ered the afflicted surface, then after a few days wash with 
warm water. 

LICE— POULTRY. 

Lice gets up considerable irritation ; more than mange or 
eczema ; the horse is restless, rubs himself almost incessantly. 
They may be found at all seasons of the year. 

TREATMENT. 

Remove the cause by changing stables. If this cannot 
be done move the chickens and whitewash the stable, clip the 



SUNSTROKE. 31 

horse nicely, then brush and groom him well if in winter, 
but if in warm weather wash with strong soapsuds, rub mod- 
erately dry, then moisten with one of the following lotions : 
Stavesacre seed, one ounce ; white helabore, one ounce ; water, 
one gallon ; boil down to one quart . or, powdered c jcoIus 
indicus, one-half pound ; vinegar one gallon ; place over a 
slow fire until it comes to a boil ; carbolic acid, two ounces : 
water, one quart. Just use enough to moisten the body, and 
repeat once or twice at intervals of four or five days. An- 
other good remedy for cattle is equal parts of oil of tar, ben- 
zoin and linseed oil rubbed along the back, and about the 
head and ears. Be sure to shelter from cold rains and bad, 
stormy weather during treatment. 

SUNSTROKE. 

This is occasionally met with in all animals. It is a con- 
gestion of the blood vessels of the brain. 

SYMPTOMS. 

The animal will show a staggering gait or may fall, strug- 
gle lor awhile, then l : e quite stdl for a time from complete loss 
of power, or he may try to rise and fall. In this way he is 
liable to do himself great injury. Pulse quick and very weak, 
breathing stentorious, generally make no resistance when you 
try to raise him. 

TREATMENT. 

If in a sleepy condition you may apply cold water by 
means of wet cloths, or pound up ice and put into a bag and 
apply to the head. Keep the body warm with stimulants, 



32 STAGGERS— VERTIGO— EPILEPSY— MEGRIMS. 

use warm water and turpentine, and if the animal can swallow 
give nitrous ether, one ounce ; water, two ounces. If the ani- 
mal cannot swallow then give rectinal injections of ether. 
This works nicely where there is great prostration. If there 
are signs of returning consciousness there are hopes of recov- 
ery. As soon as he will take it give clear, cold water. As 
soon as you think he can stand help him up, then give a light 
purgative followed by bromide of potash in tablespoon doses; 
once or twice in two or three hours. Watch closely for some- 
times the case may be apparently doing welljwhen a relapse 
soon carries the animal away. Keep him from the rays of 
the sun and give rectinal injections hourly until the bowels 
are moved. 

STAGGERS— VERTIGO— EPILEPSY— MEGRIMS. 

This may be the result of temporary congestion of the 
brain, or anything that will interfere with the flow of blood? 
or it may be a sequel of heart disease, or it may be due to 
engorgement of the stomach and chronic indigestion; but the 
true causes are generally obscure ; probably a morbid condi- 
tion of the brain, very hard to account for." On post mortem 
tumors have been found in the brain. Nervous animals are 
prone to the disease. 

SYMPTOMS. 

The horse attacked suddenly staggers or rears and falls 
to the ground. The animal may rise in a few minutes ap- 
parently as well as ever. In some cases you will have pre- 
monitory symptoms such as drowsiness, a peculiar working of 
the ears alternately forward and backward ; in other cases 
these symptoms are absent ; do not confound choking with 



TRISMUS— LOCKED JAW. 33 

this disease. Such horses are very dangerous, as they may 
become unmanageable at any time, endangering the life of the 
driver. 

TREATMENT. 

If the animal be in good condition take about three or 
four quarts of blood from the jugular vein ; make a large 
opening that the blood may flow freely. After pinning up 
the wound give a gentle purgative followed by bromide of 
potash, six drams ; bromide of amonia, two drams ; warm 
water one-half pint ; mix. Give all at once as a drench. 
Repeat this dose once a day for several days, feed on soft, 
laxative food, and repeat the above whenever you see the 
slightest signs of approaching disease. 

TRISMUS*— "LOCKED JAW." 

TETANUS, f " LOCKED BODY." 

This is a very dangerous and fatal disease ; most animals 
die, although a few cases recover. The most common causes 
are punctured wounds in the feet by picking up nails, etc., but 
occasionally we have tetanus without any visible cause. Again 
it will develop itself from very trivial causes. I had one case 
following a seaton (commonly called a rowell) in the shoulder 
for the treatment of sweeney. Some writers say that it may 
follow blistering, docking, etc. Castration is another common 

f Tetanus, " Locked Bod y." — A disease which consists of a per- 
manent contraction of the muscles without alteration or relaxation ; 
rigidity and immobility of the limbs and body. 

* Trismus, "Locked Jaw." — A permanent contraction of the 
muscles of the jaw causing a partial or complete closure of the 
mouth. 



34 TRISMUS— LOCKED JAW. 

cause, and makes its appearance about the eighth, or tenth day 
and occasionally later. The causes of locked jaw following cas- 
tration diifer. Cold rains, lying on damp ground, standing in 
a pool or pond of water, are the most common causes, while a 
bath is liable to produce it. Some claim that there is a mechan- 
ical pressure brought upon the nerve by the healing of the 
wound. 

SYMPTOMS. 

The symptoms are usually very plain, especially if you 
have trismus and tetanus combined. If you have trismus 
alone the animal will move about as in health, except that he 
will not eat, the head is somewhat extended and you are at a 
loss to know just what the ail is. Put your hand under the 
chin and raise the head carefully when you will notice the haw 
cover the eye. If you h&vetetanus alone, the animal will 
exhibit a stilty, jerky action when compelled to move. The 
muscles standing out bold, firm and rigid. When left alone 
undisturbed the animal will lower its head to eat and drink, 
but the slightest noise, as clapping the hands, snapping the 
finger, will cause the poor sufferer to go into convulsions. 

TREATMENT OP TETANUS — LOCKED BODY. 

First remove the cause. If it be a nail or gravel in the 
foot or a suppurated corn open with a large opening, then 
apply the oil cake meal poultice. Keep the poultice warm by 
pouring on warm water three times a day. Place the sufferer 
in a loose, dark box stall away from other animals and noise. 
When approaching the patient do so carefully to avoid excite- 
ment. Give at once a laxative ball or diench. Barbadoes 
aloes, eight drams ; powdered mix vomica, 1 dram; powdered 
ginger, 2 drams ; soap or molasses to make into a ball, or you 



TRISMUS— LOCKED .TAW. 35 

may dissolve in hot water and give as a drench, then give the 
following three times a day in the feed or on the tongue: 
Quinine, six drams ; powdered bromide of potash eight 
ounces; powdered gentiau, four ounces; mix. Give a table- 
spoonful three times a day. Feed scalded bran, oats and 
other loosening food, and every night at bedtime give chloral 
hydrate, four drams ; bromide of amonia, two drams ; water 
and raw linseed oil equal parts to make one pint ; dissolve the 
medicine in the water first, then add the oil. Give as a 
drench. Allow all the water he will drink, chilled in cold 
weather, a little at a time and often. 

TREATMENT OF TRISMUS — -LOCKED JAW. 

The treatment consists in taking a rubber tube, about 
five feet in length and half an inch in diameter, one end of 
which is drawn over the neck of a long two-ounce bottle, con- 
taining six drams of ether, and the other end is introduced 
into the rectum about eight or ten inches. The bottle is then 
placed m a can of boiling water, and the ether is slowly evap- 
orated, which will be accomplished in about 15 or 20 minutes. 
This procedure is repeated four or five times a day ; and to 
improve the treatment, half an ounce of chloral hydrate is 
given once a day in a liquid bran mash. Besides this, the 
patient is to be placed in a commodious box stall and kept 
completely dark. The result of the treatment will soon show 
itself. Under the constant influence of partial anaesthesia, the 
temperature will soon commence to fall ; the pulse falls below 
normal in the course of two or three days, the spasmodic 
contraction becomes gradually less, and in 20 to 25 days we 
may look for recovery. 

COLIC IN HOESES. 

The study of colic is one of the very foremost in the 



3(i COLIC IN HORSES. 

Veterinary profession. The frequency of its appearance, the 
severity, the great mortality and pecuinary loss, together with 
the difficulty of prevention, justifies the statement and fully 
explains the prominence of its claim to the consideration of 
the grower as well as the practitioner. 

GENERAL SYMPTOMS OF COLIC. 

It comes on very suddenly if not instantaneously. At 
times the attack begins by the patient manifesting a degree of 
dullness. He looks at his flank and stands back to the length 
of his halter. But whether appearing suddenly or developing 
slowly, the patient becomes more or less restless. He paws 
and stamps, twists his body, kinks his tail, bends his knees, 
brings all his feet together, makes the attempt but does not 
lie down, or he may lie down but soon rises again ; he may 
roll over or balance himself on his back; or rest flatly on his 
side. In some fi.rms of colic the animal, when lying down, 
expresses his suffering by moaning or grunting loudly. In 
all cases the countenance is anxious and contracted, the nos- 
trils dilated, the eyes widely opened and fixed with an expres- 
sion indicating the pain he suffers. His movements and strug- 
gles are more or less violent according to the degree of pain 
he endures. In some animals these symptoms are of long dur- 
ation and persistency, and there is no intermission in the rest- 
less motions ; the twisting of the body, the stamping of the 
feet, the lying down and getting up, and other indications of 
the pain which has attacked the vitals of the tortured victim, 
and for which he is vainly seeking relief in his contortions 
and struggles. But occasionally the disease is marked with 
distinct intermission, more or less characteristic. During the 
remissions the patient remains quiet in his stall or stretched out 
upon his bedding, at times grunting uneasily, as an expression 



COLIC IN HORSES. 37 

of the suffering he is enduring. Every individual horse, how- 
ever, has his own peculiar form of attack, and his special 
mode of exhibiting his distress, and the general manifestation 
of the disease will, therefore, be modified aud diversified ac- 
according to the individuality of the patient. The breathing 
is usually quickened or hurried in colic, and remains so, in 
various degrees, until the end of the attack, fatal or favorable. 
But on the other hand, notwithstanding what has been written 
on the subject, the circulation at the beginning of the attack 
seems to be reduced and greatly impaired. Arterial action is 
depressed, the pulse hard, small aud irregular, often below 
normal. During this period the visible mucous membrane is 
pale. The heart, for some unknown reasons, remains indiffer- 
ent to the existing morbid conditions, and even diminishes its 
action, in consequence of which the circulation is weaker. 
The temperature of the surface of the body is lowered. This 
is most marked in the extremities. At a later period the 
heart again accelerates its actions and its contractions become 
strong and repeating, though the pulse generally remains weak, 
small and thready, and towards the final struggle for life be- 
comes imperceptable. There is often profuse perspiration from 
the beginning of the disease, which indicates a favorable ter- 
mination. In cases of fatal termination this shows itself 
toward the end and is a cold perspiration, wetting the whole 
body and often running off in streams. 

Certain forms of colic recover either by treatment or by 
instantaneous natural reaction. This is shown by the expul- 
sion of wind, stools and urine. Preceding or immediately 
after these expulsions, the animal shakes himself and changes 
instantly from the peculiar and intense expression of pain he 
has endured. 

Occasionally, and even with the best care and treatment, 



38 COLIC IN HORSES. 

the symptoms continue to increase in severity, the an- 
imal throws himself around more and more rapidly, and the 
pain becomes more and more marked at each renewal. The 
animal ceases to notice anything and recklessly throws him- 
self down regardless of pain or possible injury. The respira- 
tion (breathing) increases more and more ; soon a deceptive 
appearance of improvement presents itself, the patient seems 
to become more calm ; he stands back the length of his tie 
strap, his legs are wide apart, his features are still character- 
ized by an expression of the agony he has endured, he is pulse- 
less, and the coolness of the body is more marked. He lies 
down — now in a more careful manner — stretches his legs, and 
with a few slight convulsive efforts death ends the scene. The 
battle is over and the victim has died, exhausted by the ex- 
crutiating pain which has tortured him. 

Even in slightly severe cases of colic all the functions of 
the intestinal canal and blander are stopped. There is paraly- 
sis of the muscular coat of these organs, consequently the pas- 
sage of the food, and of the gases from the stomach and intes- 
tines is arretted while urinating is also suspended. It is a re- 
markable fact that during stomach or intestinal colic the 
functions of the bladder are entirely suspended, the patient 
often stretching himselt to urinate, but failing. 

Violent pains, whether continuous or intermittent, cause 
struggling more or less, causing the animal to breathe fast; pulse 
at first normal or perhaps slow, is now quick and thready or 
even absent, according to the termination ; bowels constipated 
or expulsions of gases and a few droppings; strong efforts to 
urinate, generally abortive ; a sudden disappearance of the 
colic when the -attack ends favorably ; a gradual increase of 
the symptoms followed by a deceptive improvement is a sure 
forerunner of death. 



COLIC IN HORSES. 39 

The diagnosis of different colics, or more property the 
affections of which colic is a symptomatic expression, is by 
common consent of the best practitioners and standard authors 
exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, in some cases to deter- 
mine. " If it is true that in cases of colic we are frequently 
unable to go back from the symptoms to the determining 
cause, and to fix positively the nature of the cause. It is at 
least also true that it is possible, by careful study; of all the 
characteristics Avhich belong to colics, to form a diagnosis 
which, if not positive, may be at least strongly probable of 
the nature of the alteration which causes it." 

It results from these well founded considerations that the 
diagnosis is iu fact really possible in a certain proportion of 
cases, although not in all. Just as we sometimes encounter 
cases of lameness that baffles our ingenuity to discover the 
seat or define the cause. 

The practitioner who encounters one of these incurable 
cases should never decline attempting a diagnosis. He should 
study the various attitudes of the patient and their different 
movements and actions, which become of indispensable value 
in aiding us to make our diagnosis full and correct. 

Colic has been divided into six classes. The first class 
includes the nervous and spasmodic forms of colic and gener- 
ally manifests itself sometimes after the animal has eaten 
or drank and often on returning from a journey. They are 
produced by an irritation of the sensitive nerves of the stom- 
ach and intestinal mucous membrane. The pains produced 
are partially continuous and vary in intensity with a duration 
of a few hours. When exercised motion is not painful, and 
in some instances affords relief. The diagnosis is easy and ter- 
mination favorable, except in cases of complication. 



40 COLIC IN HORSES. 

TREATMENT. 

Place the animal in a well ventilated, loose box stall with 
a deep, soft bed, and give at once the following : Eaw lin- 
seed oil, one pint; spirits turpentine, two ounces; carbonate of 
amonia, two drams; mix. Give all at once as a drench; if 
no better in 30 or 40 minutes you are to take of hyposulphite 
of soda, four ounces ; chloral hydrate, four drams ; warm 
water, one-half pint ; mix. Give all at once. Repeat this 
every hour or two until relieved. Then give the folloAving 
for two or three days : Powdered nuxvomica, two ounces ; 
powdered ginger, four ounces; powdered gentian, two ounces ; 
mix. Give one tablespoonlul three times a day in the feed, 
or on the tongue. 

SECOND CLASS. 

The second class includes wind colic, which is common to 
cribbers and heavey horses, and usually occurs after a hearty 
meal. A spontaneous cure often occurs, or it is relieved by 
treatment until the day comes when some complication is pres- 
ent and the animal dies. This class of colic is recognized by 
the bloating, having a hollow sound or percussion. The his- 
tory of the patient will greatly assist in arriving at a proper 
diagnosis. This class of colic also includes simple indigestion, 
such as are complicated with overloading the stomach ; the 
varying degree of intensity is indicated by an anxious expres- 
sion of the face, nostrils dilated more or less, distension and 
heaviness of the abdomen, pain and hesitation in walking, 
falling down heavily and complaining loudly, gapping more 
or less frequent, bowels constipated, urinary functions sus- 
pended. In indigestion with overloading the diagnosis is 
quite easy. The prognosis must be a guarded one on account 
of the serious complications with which they are likely to be 



COLIC IN HORSES. -±1 

associated. These forms of colic are likely to follow hearty 
and hoggish eating or drinking. 

TREATMENT. 

Take of good whisky one-half pint ; bicarbonate of soda, 
one ounce ; carbonate of amonia, two drams ; warm water, 
one-half pint ; mix. Give all at once as a drench. As soon 
as you have given this you must, without delay, give a physic 
ball or drench. (See Index). Should the pain continue un- 
abated, in from 15 to 30 minutes you are to give chloral 
hydrate, four drams ; carbonate of amonia, two drams ; bicar- 
bonate of soda, four drams ; warm water, one-half pint ; mix. 
Give all at once as a drench, and repeat this as often as may 
be necessary to keep the animal quiet. Should the gases con- 
tinue to form, which is indicated by the distension of the ab- 
domen, you are to tap the animal, using the Trocar and canula. 
(See Index.) This is done by puncturing the colon on the 
right side, mid-way between the last rib and the point of the 
hip at the most distended or prominent point. Dr. Rose, of 
Grand Rapids, Mich., says he has tapped many hundred 
horses during his practice in the city with good recoveries. 
Some of them were tapped 13 and 14 times in 24 hours and 
recovered without even an abscess forming, which sometimes 
follows the wound made by the trocar. Our own experience 
with the trocar in the horse is somewhat limited, but quite 
extensive in cattle practice, with never failing results. 

THIRD CLASS, 

The third class is essentially active and is manifest by 
violent pains, constant struggling, breathing short and quick, 
full, quick pulse, countenance expressive of great suffering, 



42 



COLIC IN HORSES. 



perspiration abundant in some parts of the body, the eyes have 
a wild staring look, the pulse becomes more quick and weak 
until finally they are imperceptible. To an experienced eye 
this diagnosis is not hard. The proguosis (termination) is al- 
ways serious, although intestinal congestion may be treated 
with success if undertaken early. It has generally passed the 
curable stage before the practitioner is called. 

TREATMENT. 




[the hypodermic syringe.] 

This class being essentially active it requires prompt and 
energetic treatment. First give with the hypodermic syringe* 
from four to six grains of morphine. Dissolve the morphine 
intone syringe of water and inject it under the skin of the 
neck. Then give of good whisky, one-half pint ; tincture of 
capsicum, one ounce; tincture of ginger, two ounces; raw 
linseed oil, one half pint ; mix. Give all at once aod repeat 
your injections of morphine as often as may be necessary to 

- * If you have no Hypodermic Syringe give 8 to 15 grains of 
morphine in a little water. 



COLIC IN HORSES. 43 

keep the animal quiet. In one hour from the first dose give 
30 to 40 drops of tincture of aconite iu a little water ; repeat 
this dose once every six hours until you have given from four 
to six doses. If the acute symptoms have not subsided by 
the time you have given the first dose of aconite you are to 
give following: Chloral hydrate, four drams; bromide of 
amonia, two drams ; warm water, one-half pint. Mix and 
give all at once, and repeat this drench as often as may be 
necessary to keep the animal quiet. 




[THE injection funnel.] 

Give warm water injections per rectum often. No harm can 
come from injections even in large quantities. In the absence 
of a syringe you can take about two feet of rubber hose and a 
tin funnel, fix the funnel in one end of the rubber, then grease 
the other end and insert it into the rectum and pour the water 
in through the funnel. We generally use this in preference to 
the syringe. 

FOURTH CLASS. 

The fourth class includes colic caused by foreign bodies 
of different nature becoming lodged in the intestinal canal ; a 
hard thing to diagnose and serious in its nature. 

Give a physic ball or drench. (See Index). Then give 
the treatment recommended in the first class. 

FIFTH CLASS. 

Displacement of the bowels is generally discovered after 
death by post mortem. The diagnosis of some forms, however, 
is known to the skillful practitioner before death ; such as 
scrotal Hernia (commonly called breached or ruptured in the 



44 COLIC IN HORSES. 

scrotum, etc.) This complication of intestinal trouble has 
singled out some very fine stallions, among which Ave might 
mention Duke of Perche, the property, at death, of Mr. E. 
Wo >dman, of Paw Paw, Mich.; the Geronomus High stallion, 
of Decatur, Mich., and many others have been reported to us 
as having died from strangulated hernia (by the bowels pas- 
sing down into the scrotum). It appears, from reports that 
the average veterinary surgeon is unable, first, to diagnose, 
and, secondly, is unable to remedy the wrong when once diag- 
nosed. We beg leave to say that it is very easy to diagnose 
and not so difficult to remedy when once you know how, at 
least, we have been successful in every case operated upon in 
the last 10 years (15 to 20 cases). We have seen some ani- 
mals suffering from hernia (breached) seeking relief by bal- 
ancing themselves on their back in the corner of the stall. 
But this symptom is no positive proof, as many animals as- 
sume this attitude in knotting of the bowels (gut tie), rupture 
of the bowels and obstructions. If strangulated hernia is not 
attended to, early mortification will take place and death 
ensue. 

TREATMENT. 

Whenever you see a stallion or gelding exhibiting sym- 
toms of colic the first thing to be done is to examine the scro- 
tum carefully well up in the groin, feeling for any unnatural 
enlargement. Should you suspicion anything wrong you are 
to roll up your shirt sleeve to the shoulder and grease the arm 
with freth lard, sweet oil or common soap, and carefully ex- 
amine per rectum. Remove the excrements, then work your 
hand gently into the intestine and down to the place where 
you think the gut has passed out into the scrotum ; now rub 
carefully over this place and you can feel the imprisoned 
bowell. If the rupture be on the left side of the horse, put 



COLIC IN HORSES. 45 

your right hand in the rectum and the left hand between his 
legs, and vice versa. Spread the fingers ol your right hand 
around the imprisoned bowell, holding them quite firmly 
against the abdominal wall, now with the left hand force the 
bowel carefully up into the right hand. By careful manipu- 
lation you can usually reduce the hernia (rupture). Should 
you fail to return the bowel you will be compelled to 
send for a qualified veterinary surgeon at once, who will cast 
the animal and return the bowel by an operation. 

MEDICINAL TREATMENT. 

Take of raw linseed oil, eight ounces ; sweet spirits niter, 
two ounces ; mix. Give all at once followed by scalded bran 
mashes for a day or two. 

SIXTH CLASS. 

Rupture of the stomach or large intestines may be recog- 
nized by sudden relief or complete disappearance of the colic, 
while at the same time the general sickly condition of the 
animal gradually increases. The increase will be marked by 
the weakening of the pulse, the gradual cooling of the body, 
followed by a cold sweat. 

Hence it must be acknowledged that there are genuine 
and serious difficulties in the way of the practitioner, yet, 
when in the presence of a suffering animal, if the practitioner 
will bear in mind the data that he must possess in his physio- 
logical knowledge and will rapidly and carefully analyze the 
symptoms of the case before him, comparing the positive and 
negative symptoms, weighing the case in his mind, comparing 
the acts in similar cases within his memory, the experienced 
and judicious veterinarian may reasonably hope to reach a 



46 CHRONIC IMPACTION OF THE COLON. 

satisfactory and nearly accurate diagnosis. This is the most 
important point to reach in order to establish a proper theory 
and mode of treatment to discover and reach the cause, if 
possible, and to remove it and save the life of the patient. 
This is the work which the veterinarian must accomplish ; this 
is what he is for, and should he fail in one case, he is branded 
as an ignoramus. It is all right for people to die, but horses 
must not die. No, no. 

However we are like the Irish M. D. Very successful 
indade, sir. Niver lo3e a patient at all, at all, sir. No ; not 
one sir; except in their last sickness, and thin, somehow, 
they'll die in spite of faith, sir, or midisin'." 

CHRONIC IMPACTION OF THE COLON. 

THE BLIND GUT FILLED WITH DRY FOOD SOMETIMES CALLED 

CONSTIPATION. 

This disease is most prevalent in the early spring 
months, and attacks horses that have been fed on dry, overripe 
food, which is usually straw ; an article unfit for food. 

SYMPTOMS. 

The animal may be found lying down, but will get up 
when spoken to, but soon lies down again. He may continue 
to lay around for several days without exhibiting much pain 
until the acute symptoms set in, when he will roll and tumble 
about for a while ; then a deceptive improvement takes place, 
he stands quiet for a while, when the head is thrown into the 
air, and with a few convulsive efforts death ends his misery. 
Again an animal may paw a little with one front foot or 
stamp with the hind feet, lie down and remain perfectly quiet 



CHRONIC IMPACTION OF THE KUMEN. 47 

for a while, then get up and eat a little, then lie down again. 
By lifting the abdomen the bowels seem heavy ; you can also 
detect a fullness and hardness of the colon by oiling your 
hand and carefully introducing it into the rectum. Each day 
he seems a little more restless, getting up and down more 
often, and if nothing is done to relieve the symptoms the ani- 
mal will die about the same as the former. 

TREATMENT. 

Take of powdered barbadoes aloes, twelve drams ; pow- 
dered nuxvomica, one dram ; powdered podophyllin, one 
dram ; molasses or soap to make into a ball and give all at 
once, or you may dissolve the medicine in warm water and 
give as a drench. Then give warm water injections per rec- 
tum and freely, giving the following every six hours : Fluid 
extract of nuxvomica, one ounce ; whisky, eight ounces. Mix 
and give one tablespoonful at a dose. If the bowels do not 
move in 36 hours take of linseed oil, eight ounces ; sweet spirits 
of nitre, two ounces. Mix and give all at once. Continue 
the whisky and nuxvomica as before, and repeat the oil once 
every 24 hours until relieved. Should the animal exhibit much 
distress you had better take of chloral hydrate, four drams ; 
hyposulphite of soda, two ounces; water one-half pint ; mix. 
Give all at once and repeat as often as may be necessary to 
keep the animal quiet. Termination usually favorable. 

CHRONIC IMPACTION OF THE RUMEN. 

MAW-BOUND, DRY MURREN, HOLLOW-HORN AND WOLF IN THE 

TAIL 

Are names by which we have heard stock growers speak 
of this disease. 

The stomach becomes filled with dry food and the mus- 



48 TYMPHANITES IN THE COW. 

cular coat is paralyzed from the excessive weight. An unusual 
amount of corn, oats, bran or middlings is liable to produce it. 

SYMPTOMS. 

The nose is dry, ruminating stopped, the animal is dull 
and seems to suffer some pain which is indicated by a grunt 
or groan when breathing, more or less restless. There is a 
heaviness and fullness of the abdomen. By pressing on the 
left side the rumen (stomach) has a doughy feeling, and you 
can leave the indenture of your hand on the stomach, the 
feces are covered with slime. Food may remain in the stom- 
ach of a cow for a long time without causing death. 

TREATMENT. 

Take of epsom salts, sixteen ounces ; croton oil, one 
dram ; powdered aloes, eight drams ; boiling water enough to 
dissolve. When cool give all as a drench. Twelve hours 
later you will take of raw linseed oil, one pint ; good whisky, 
oue-half pint ; sulphate quioine one-half dram. Mix and give 
all at once, and repeat this every 12 hours until the bowels move 
freely. In all bad cases it is a good practice to give injec- 
tions per rectum of warm water every two or three hours- 
Occasionally which is the exception and not the rule, we find 
a case that resists all medicinal treatment. Then we have to 
resort to Rumen Otomy. (See Index.) 

TYMPHANITES IN THE COW. 

HOVEN, CLOVER BLOAT, BLOATING, ACUTE INDIGESTION, ETC. 

This disease at times kills very quickly and at all times 
is to be treated energetically. 

Causes. — In some localities clover, while wet with the 



TYMPHANITES IN THE COW. 49 

dew, will produce it very quickly. Sudden change of food 
or an over feed of rich food such as chop or corn meal ; in fact 
any kind of food may produce it. It may be a symptom of 
choak or other disease. 

SYMPTOMS. 

The left flank is swollen to a great extent and there may 
be belching of wind or gases. Ruminating (chewing the cud) 
is suspended. The rumen (paunch) sounds hollow when you 
tap it with your hand, the head extended and the mouth may 
open sufficiently to allow the tongue to hang out. Toward 
the last the eyes are bloodshot, the animal staggers as it moves 
and if relief is not given at once soon dies from asphyxia. 

TREATMENT. 




[the trocar and canula used in tapping cattle.] 

The first thing to be done in bad cases is to make an 
opening in the rumen (stomach) at once, which is best done 
with the trocar and canula, and is done as follows: Take a 
sharp knife and cut a hole just through the skin a half inch 
long mid-way between the point of the hip and last long rib 
on the left side and about one inch below the point of the hip. 
Now take the trocar and canula and force it through the 
opening you have made in the skin into the rumen, incline 
the trocar, with the point a little forward introduce it the full 
length. Now withdraw the trocar leaving the canula in ; this 
forms an opening through which the gas escapes. As soon as 



50 CATARRH IN_THE COW. 

the bloat has gone down cork up the canula and allow it to 
remain for a while removing the cork as the gas accumulates. 
As soon as you have relieved the urgent symptom's you are to 
take of carbonate of amonia, six drams; spirits of turpentine, 
two ounces ; raw linseed oil, one quart ; mix. Give all at once 
as a drench. II' not relieved in one hour take of epsom salts, 
eight ounces ; quinine, one dram ; bicarbonate of soda, two 
ounces; boiliDg water enough to dissolve Cool, shake well 
and give as a drench. As soon as the animal quits bloating 
remove the canula and bathe the wound with alcohol, arnica, 
camphor, whisky or cold water, and give the following for a 
week: Fluid extract of nuxvomica, two ounces ; water, one 
pint. Mix and give one tablespoon ful three times a day in 
the feed or on the tongue. The termination of this disease is 
usually favorable. 

CATARRH m THE COW. 

HOLLOW HOR> T , WOOLF IN THE TAIL. 

This is a disease of the air passages and differs somewhat 
from catarrh in the horse and the general symptoms are a dis- 
charge from the nose, does not sweat as in health, but is dry 
and rough, there is fever and a cough present, pulse a little 
quick, the animal does not ruminate (chew the cud), the ex- 
tremities are cold and the disease sometimes becomes so aggra- 
vated that there is pus or matter in the cavity of the horns. 
This gives rise to an imaginary disease called hollow horn. 
There is no such disease. All cattle have hollow horns — if 
they have horns — -a fact which all stock growers ought to 
know. Another symptom of catarrh is a dropping apart of 
the bones at the end of the tail. This is due to a relaxed con- 



LARYNGITIS AND PHARYNGTIS. 51 

dition caused by disease, and gives rise to another imaginary 
ail called woolf in the tail. As soon as the animal is restored 
to health the tail regains its natural condition, and we hope 
that the "Young America" of to-day will discard these 
erroneous ideas, get out of these old ruts that our ancestors 
have wallowed in for so many generations, and post themselves 
before they make an assertion or go to dosing a poor dumb 
animal for some imaginary disease. 

TREATMENT. 

Give from one-quarter to one-half pound of epsom salts 
dissolved iu warm water as a drench, then give powdered salt- 
petre ; one and one-half tablespoonfuls three times a day for a 
week. Then give powdered sulphate of iron, one tablespoon - 
ful three times a day for three or four days. Feed on good, 
laxative food. 

LARYNGITIS AND PHARYNGITIS. 

AN INFLAMMATION OF THE THROAT. 

This disease is characterized by loud breathing, swelling 
of the throat, ruminating (chewing the cud) suspended, much 
difficulty manifest while drinking. 

TREATMENT. 

Apply the mercurial blister to the throat, neck and 
under jaw, extending well up to the ears, then give raw oil, 
one pint ; spirits turpentine, two ounces. Mix and give all at 
once as a drench. Then take powdered chlorate of potash, 



52 RUMINATING. 

one pound and give one tablespoonful every four hours on the 
tongue. Feed on sloppy food, blanket the body and attend to 
the general comfort of the animal. 

RUMINATING. 

THE COW'S CUD. 

All animals that rechew their food are called ruminants. 
This class includes the cow, sheep, goat, etc. The stomach of 
these animals has four compartments, the rumen, the reticu- 
lum, omasum and abomasum. The rumen is the large part of 
the stomach which the food enters when swallowed. After 
the cow has finished her meal she will remain quiet and remas- 
ticate or rechew her food which comes up into the mouth in small 
quantities, is rechewed and again swallowed when it passes on 
into the reticulum, omasum (manifold) and so on through. 
Another quantity is forced up into the mouth, chewed and re- 
turned in a like manner until all has been rechewed. This 
is called ruminating (chewing the cud). This being a fact, 
how absurd it is to talk of a cow 

LOSING THE CUD. 

Yet there are many people who believe that a cow has a 
permanent cud of some kind although they can not tell you 
what it is like, but they are sure she loses it occasionally and 
cannot find it. So they wad up a dish rag, a bunch of hay or 
grass, a large piece of fat pork, or catch a live bull-frog and 
force it down her defenceless throat for the purpose of making 
a new cud. How utterly ridiculous the idea. Too ridiculous 
to talk about. Whenever the cow eats she has a cud, and 



AZOTURIA. 53 

will chew it if she is able to. If she does not chew her cud 
it is because she is sick, in which case you should endeavor to 
find out the ail and give the proper remedies, which will re- 
store her to health, when she will find her cud without your 
assistance, and chew it as vigorously as the young lady of to- 
day does her gum. 

AZOTURIA. 

STOPPAGE OF WATER, PARALYSIS — KIDNEY DISEASES, ETC. 

This is a disease peculiar to fat, easy keeping horses, those 
which take on flesh easily. 

Causes. — Allowing an animal to remain in the stable for 
a few days without exercise, continuing the usual work diet, 
the building up process goes on faster than the excretory or- 
gans can carry out the worn out matter. Consequently the 
urea (poison part of urine) and hypuric acid on exercise, are 
re-absorbed into the system, acting as an irritant, causing 
spasms and contractions, especially of the large muscles o± 
loins and hip. The faster the work the more severe are the 
symptoms and serious the attack. 

Prof. Smith, of the Toronto Veterinary College, says that 
azoturia is more common in the winter month?, but my exper- 
ience has led me to the conclusion that it is most prevalent in 
the United States in the early spring months, when farmers 
commence to feed up their horses for spring plowing, which 
they have commenced, perhaps, when a rain storm sets in for 
two or three days and it takes (in clay soil) two or three days 
for the ground to dry, during which time the horses must be 
fed high (says the farmer) that they may be ready for the 
extra work caused by delay on account of the rain. 



54 AZOTURIA. 

SYMPTOMS. 

The animal (always a good one) when taken from the 
stall appears in the best of condition. This is a common ex- 
pression "he never felt better" he is driven from a few rods to 
a few miles when he begins to sweat profusely, then he begins 
to lag and if stopped you will notice a nervous twitch of the 
muscles, trembling of the flank and sometimes of the shoulders, 
these symptoms are speedily succeeded by a loss of motor 
power, and a desire to lie down, or may go lame ^suddenly as 
though he had picked up a nail, or fall down suddenly. Some- 
times they are very restless, trying to get up, tumbling around 
bruising themselves badly. The bowels are costive, the urine 
is of a dark coffee color. From what has been said about 
azoturia it will be readily seen that a horse may be only 
slightly or severely attacked. 

TREATMENT. 

If the animal is very restless give at once a hypodermic 
injection of morphine, six grains; if you have no syringe give 
instead, chloral hydrate, four drams; water, one-half pint; dis- 
solve and give all at once as a drench. If quiet, this dose is 
to be omitted, but the following mud be given without delr.y, 
regardless of the severity of the symptoms. Take of powdered 

* Note — The lameness in azoturia differs from all other forms 
of lameness; but slightly resembles a broken leg as it forms no 
column of support whatever, it is sometimes mistaken for stifle 
joint affection from which it differs materially, in stifle affection the 
leg forms a column of support when compelled to move the three 
unaffected ones. In azoturia the reverse is the case, the affected leg 
forms very little or no support, the animal moving as though he had 
but three legs. 



AZOTURIA. 55 

barbadoes aloes, ten drams; powdered nuxvomica, one dram; 
powdered capsicum, one dram; powdered ginger, two drams; mo- 
lasses or soft soap enough to make a stiff mass, make into two 
pills and give both at once, or you may add one-half pint of 
hot water and give as a drench. Give warm water injections 
per rectum every two hours until the bowels move freely. If 
restless give bromide of potash, but if quiet give nitrate of 
potash in tablespoon doses every six hours, alternate with the 
following, fluid extract nuxvomica, one ounce; alcohol, eight 
ounces; mix, give a tablespoonful every six hours, this brings 
one dose every three hours, turn about. If the bowels do not 
operate freely in twenty-four hours, take of raw linseed oil, 
twelve ounces; spirits of turpentine, two ounces, mix, give all 
at once and repeat the oil alone every twelve hours until the 
bowels operate freely. Should the animal be unable to stand, 
make a good soft bed and turn him over about every three 
hours. As soon as you have given the aloes prepare the fol- 
lowing, take of spirits of turpentine, aqua ammonia, 
sweet oil and alchohol, each two ounces; mix, shake and 
bathe the loins, hips and legs, then blanket and keep 
him warm. Some recommend the applications of blankets 
rung out of hot water and applied to the loins and 
hips. This is good or the best treatment if you will 
only continue it long enough, say twelve hours at a time 
or longer. For the medicinal effect of water hot or cold is pro- 
portionate to the length of time applied. Do not be in a 
hurry about getting the animal up until the third or fourth day. 
About this time put the sling under the animal and raise him 
upon his leet, have plenty help and as soon as you get him up 
bathe his legs with the liniment and have them hand rubbed 
for ten minutes vigorously, after which he will usually try to 
stand but should he fail to regain the use of his limbs after a 



56 



PURPURA HEMORRHAGICA. 




[THE SLING.] 



few minutes you must let him down renewing the attempt once 
a day until he does stand. The urine (water) should be drawn 
at once and should the animal fail to urinate it must be drawn 
every six hours. 




[the female catheter.] 
The male catheter is three feet long, made of rubber. 

PURPURA HEMORRHAGICA. 



An eruptive, non-contagious fever of an intermittent type, 
usually occuring as a sequel to other diseases, such as influenza 



PURPURA HEMORRHAGICA. 57 

and its origin. Putting an animal to work too soon after re 
covering from any debilitating disease is a common cause of 
purpury. Damp ill-ventilated stables where the animal is 
compelled to inhale the products of decomposing urine and 
manure is another cause. 

SYMPTOMS. 

The first appearance is a swelling of the legs, it may be 
slight, at the hocks only, or the whole leg may be swollen to 
the body, usually all of the legs are swollen and at times so 
large that the animal cannot lift them from the floor. I have 
seen a few cases that the swelling stopped so abrupt at the 
body that it looked as though a string had been tied around 
to prevent it from going further. I have treated some cases 
where the swelling of the legs would begin to go down on the 
fourth or fifth day and on the evening of the fifth day the legs 
were natural, but the next morning I found an enlargement at 
the lower part of the neck or upper part of the breast the size 
of a child's head, hot and tense this continued to increase in 
size for four days when I opened it, and I think that there was 
at least six quarts of thin white pus escaped and the animal 
made a good recovery. Another case similar to this except 
the swelling appeared in the fleshy part of the hip. The pulse 
and temperature are changeable, in the morning you may find 
the pulse 60°, the temperatuie 102°, and at night you will 
find the pulse 80°, temperature 104?°. The animal usually 
stands but occasionally will lie down and the chances are that 
you will have to help him up, but do not disturb him for a 
few hours if he lay quiet as the rest so obtained seems to re- 
fresh him wonderfully. This disease has been dubbed "yellow 
water" by some on account of a yellowish looking fluid which 



58 CHRONIC COUGH. 

exudes (seips) through, tha pours of the skin, at times it 
streams down the legs in pools where the auimal stand. Oc- 
casionally but not often this fluid resembles blood, the bowels 
are constipated and urine scanty. 

TREATMENT. 

The duration of this disease is from fifteen to fifty or 
sixty days, the average time being about forty days. Remove 
the animal to a well ventilated, dry loose box stall and give 
the following laxative: Raw linseed oil, one pint; spirits of 
turpentine, two ounces; mix, give all at once as a drench, re- 
peat the oil as often as may be necessary to keep the bowels 
regular. Take powdered chlorate of potash, sixteen ounces, 
give one tablespoonful three times a day for three days, then 
omit and take of powdered sulphate of iron, eight ounces, give 
two teaspoonful three times a day for two days, then return to 
the potash for three days and then back to the iron and so on. 
Feed on laxative food, scalded bran and oats, allow plenty of 
water, milk, eggs, etc. If the legs crack, ulcers form or the 
flesh sluffs in spots, bathe with 'white lotion", (S^e Index.) 
As soon as he begius to move around allow him a yard to run 
in. Though the animal is often a pitiful looking sight, the 
termination of the disease is usually favorable. 

CHRONIC COUGH. 

This may be the result of either throat or lung trouble, 
and must be treated according to what you think the true 
cause. 

TREATMENT. 

If from throat troubles apply a fly blister (See Index) to 
the throat extending down between the angles of the jaw and 



SCRATCHES. 59 

well up toward the ears. Repeat the blister once a month 
until cured. Take of iodide of potash, two drams ; powdered 
muriate of ammonia, two drams. Mix and give as one dose ; 
repeat night and morning for a week. 

Another good prescription is camphor, digitalis, ' opium, 
and calomel, of each one dram. Make into a ball and give 
one at night for a week, omitting the calomel after the second 
night. It is a good practice to give the turpentine drench the 
first thing, followed by a bran mash and the cough remedy. 

SCRATCHES. 

The most common cause of this disease is allowing the 
legs to dry by evaporation. This sets up an irritation. 
Heavy horses are more liable to it than the better bred lighter 
ones are. The hind legs are more often affected than the 
front ones. 

SYMPTOMS. 

The horse may be stiff and sore on coming from the 
stable, but gets better on exercising. The animal may lift its 
leg as in string-halt, the fetlock somewhat swollen and may 
bleed. Scratches may terminate in greese. 

TREATMENT. 

Give a physic ball (See Index), first giving a scalded 
bran mash with plenty of salt the night before and little or no 
hay. Give all the water the animal will drink, continue the 
bran mash for three or four days, giving powdered nitrate of 
potash in tablespoonful doses three times a day for a week* 
Externally use "white lotion" carbolized cosmoline, or the 



60 DIBETES. 

" white healing 'powder" washing the parts as often as you 
may deem necessary and remember to always rub the legs dry 
and not allow them to dry in the air, as this is a sufficient 
cause to produce scratches. 

GREESE. 

This might be be said to be a more advanced stage of 
Scratches, and should be treated the same, although it is more 
difficult to treat and the results are not so favorable in all 
cases. 

MUD FEVER. 

This you might call another and more severe form of 
greese, in which the hair comes off of the legs, and is to be 
treated about the same. You will give internally, in addition 
to the above treatment, one dram of iodide of potash three 
times a day for a week or two. 

DIABETES. 

This disease is characterized by great thirst, an excessive 
discharge of urine, debility and rapid wasting away. I have 
known fat, nice horses to be attacked and in six weeks were 
mere skeletons. The causes are attributed to over-ripe, non- 
nutritious food, musty hay, oats or corn are the exciting 
causes. 

SYMPTOMS. 

The animal has an excessive thirst and profuse urination 
rapid wasting of flesh, the lining of the nose and tongue often 



ACUTE LAMINITIS OR POUNDER. 61 

present a pale or sometimes a rusty appearance, the appetite is 
not much affected in the horse, but fhe dog has a ravenous 
appetite for flesh, the pulse is usually slower than natural, the 
breath sometimes smells sour. 

TREATMENT. 

The first dose to be given is crystal iodine, one and one- 
half drams ; iodide of potash, one dram ; water, two ounces. 
Mix and shake until dissolved, then add one-half pint of raw 
oil and give all at once as a drench. Wait 12 hours and give 
the following: Crystal iodine, three drams ; iodide of potash, 
two drams ; water, eight ounces ; mix. This makes three 
doses (to be given in eight ounces of raw oil). Give one dose 
every 12 hours until all three are given. Then take of iodide 
of potash, four ounces ; crystal iodine, four drams ; water, 
sixteen ounces. Mix and give one tablespoonful in the feed 
three times a day. One of the essential things is a complete 
change of food, regardless of what they have been eating. 

ACUTE LAMINITIS OR FOUNDER. 

This is one of the most dreadful diseases that horse flesh 
is heir to. You cannot imagine how the poor animal suffers 
when once he is attacked with acute laminitis. 

Causes. — It is caused by drinking cold water when heated, 
cooling off too suddenly, standing in a darft, a sudden chill, an 
abortion, being compelled to stand in a constrained position, 
over-work, eating highly nutritious food, such as wheat, rye, 
etc. Inflammation of the bowels and bronchitis are also liable 
to terminate in laminitis ; driving through a stream of cold 



63 ACUTE LAMINITIS OR FOUNDER. 

water when the horse is warm, standing in a stall on a heap of 
hot, decaying manure is another fruitful cause. 

SYMPTOMS. 

When only the front feet are affected the animal will 
stand with the hind legs well under the body and the front 
legs somewhat extended and moves with great difficulty. In 
examining a suspicious case force the animal back ; if it be 
founder he will roll back on his heels, raising the toe from the 
ground. When the hind feet alone are affected he will stand 
with all of his feet drawn together, a picture of distress. Usually 
he will not stand long at a time when the hind feet are 
affected, but will lie down, and seems to get immediate relief 
as is indicated by the pulse falling 10 to 20 beats in the course 
of as niauy minutes. When one foot is alone affected as it 
sometimes happens when a horse for some reason is compelled 
to stand on one foot for a long time. For example a horse 
has a nail or gravel in the right hind foot ; be stands on the 
leit one for some time. On your next visit you find him 
standing on the lame right leg with what was the well foot 
extended under the body with the heel resting on the floor. 
If but one front foot is affected it will likewise be extended. 
When all four feet are affected you will have a combination 
of the foregoing symptoms with heat in all the feet, and the 
legs may be somewhat swollen, which is a good symptom ; the 
breathing is quickened, the pulse are full and quick, 60 to 80 
beats per minute. 

TREATMENT. 

Give a laxative ball or drench at once, then give the fol- 
lowing alternately (turn about) every hour : Fluid extract 



ACUTE LAMINITIS OR FOUNDER. 63 

aconite root, one ounce; water, one pint; mix. Give one 
tablespoonful every two hours on the tongue. Powdered 
nitrate potash, eight ounces. Give one tablespoonful every 
two hours on the tongue. As soon as the appetite returns 
give scalded bran mash and remember that all diseases requir- 
ing a physic requires water also ; a little at a time and often. 
As soon as you have given the first dose of medicine remove 
ail the shoes and rasp off the wall of the diseased feet so that 
the sole will come to the ground, then put on an "oil cake meal 
poultice" (See Index). Be sure to have the poultice quice 
warm and pour warm water over the poultice every two or three 
houis. Renew the poultice once a day. Continue the aconite 
and potash until the animal beams to improve, then gradually 
diminish it in quantity and frequency. If the bowels do not 
move pretty freely in 24 hours after the physic is given you 
must give from one-half to one pint of raw linseed oil (ac- 
cording to the size of the horse) once a day until they do 
more freely. About the third or fourth day you must commence 
exercising the animal by leading or driving it a few rods and 
back three times a clay gradually increasing the distance up 
to an hour at each walk, Should any lameness or stiffne:-s 
threaten to remain a mild blister is to be applied around the 
top of the feet. In addition to this treatment I usually take 
from two to four quarts of blood from the jugular vein the 
very first thing we do in all bad cases. In the milder ones 
there is no need of bleeding, but I do think it a good practice 
to bleed in severe cases. We have treated a great many cases, 
all of which have terminated favorably, and are sure that if 
this treatment is carefully followed out recovery will be sure 
and speedy, many cases recovering in from three to ten days* 



64 BOTS IN THE HORSE. 



BOTS IN THE HOKSE. 



There is a great diversity of opinion with re- 
gard to the good and bad effect of bots. Some 
say that a horse cannot live without them, and 
assign as a reason, first, that the bots are loose 
in the stomach of a healthy animal aud assist 
[no! 3, bot.] ill the digestion of the food in a like manner 
and are as essential as the gravel in the chicken's gizzard. This 
is impossible, from the fact that the action of the stomach and 
bowels are such as would expel them at once. Besides, dur- 
ing their stay in the digestive organs of the horse they have 
no means of locomotion. This being a fact how absurd it is 
to think that the bot crawls up into the animal's throat and 
chokes him or brings about disease as is claimed by some- 
Others claim that bots have been known to eat holes through 
the walls of the stomach. This is utterly impossible, as the bot 
has no teeth, cannot bite, and does not live by eating, but receives 
its sustenance by absorption. That bots are capable of injury 
and occasionally are the cause of very grave lesions can- 
not be denied, but these injuries are rarely, if ever, properly 
diagnosed until after death. Post mortem has revealed to me 
the following : First, that the head or absorbent end of the 
bot is so deeply inserted into the mucous membrane of the 
stomach that no medicine will affect them except it be strong 
enough to destroy the horse. Second, that a few bots do no 
harm while in the stomach, and many only impair digestion 
the cause of which can only be guessed at ; third, that the 
only clanger to be apprehended from bots is during their transit 
through the alimentary canal by attaching themselves to the 



HISTORY OF THE BOT. 65 

walls of the intestines, forming a mechanical stoppage of the 
passage, causing rupture of the bowel. For this reason, if 
nothing else, we would advise every horse owner to keep the 
larvae (nits) off of the hair, Avhich is easily done by scraping 
with a knife blade. The many horses reported as dying from 
bots eating through the stomach were in all probability cases 
of gastritis, causing rupture of the stomach, allowing the bot 
to pass into the abdominal cavity, the "hoss" doctor branding 
the innocent little bot as a murderer in the first degree. 

THE HISTORY OF THE BOT. 

During the latter part of the summer the common gad 
fly attacks the horse, its object being not to derive sustenance, 
but to deposit its eggs on the hair, and it does this by means 
of a gluey substance which causes the ova, or egg; to adhere 
to the hair. The gad fly very wisely deposits its eggs on the 
shoulder and fore legs of the animal that it may be in easy 
proximity to the mouth. The animal heat hatches the eggs, 
which bring forth a small worm, the slightest motion of which 
causes the animal to bite himself, when the larvae (as they are 
now termed( are taken into the mouth and along with the 
food and drink are conveyed into the stomach. Of course a 
great many of the larvae are destroyed during their transit 
from the hair to the stomach. Some are dropped from the 
mouth, while others are crushed during mastication. Not- 
withstanding the great waste the interior of the stomach miy 
become nearly covered with the larvae, which are retained by 
means of two small hooks by which they attach themselves to 
the mucous membrane where they remain, suck'ngthe jui- es of 
the stomach, uni il they are full gr. iwn, covering a period i >f about 
eight months, at the expiration of which time they voluntariiy 



66 NEMITODA. 

let go and allow themselves to be carried along the alimentary 
canal until at length they are expelled. During this transit it 
is again supposed that many more lives are lost, but those fall- 
ing on suitable soil are warmed by the sun for a few weeks 
until a third change takes place and the gad fly (or nit-sticker, 
as they are sometimes called) is hatched out and goes about 
the work of reproduction. Thus it will be seen that the gad 
fly uses the stomach of the horse as a medium of propagation, 
perpetuating its kind. And a strange kind it is, too ; having 
no mouth, it can take no nourishment, consequently its life is 
short but fruitful. 

NEMITODA. 

HUSK IN SHEEP — LUNG WORMS IN LAMBS AND SHEEP. 

These are round, thread-like worms from two to four 
inches long, and are, perhaps the most important class of 
worms as they have a head capable of penetrating any part of 
the animal body except bone. I have seen large flocks de- 
stroyed by the lung worms. 

SYMPTOMS. 

We notice a flock of lambs coughing. They are out of 
health. The cough is paroxysmal and threads of mucous are 
coughed up, and if we examine this mucous we will likely find 
one of the minute thread-like worms. This is a positive symp- 
tom. On post mortem I have found the bronchial tubes 
completely filled with Avorms. Mr. Geo. Pearl, of Riverside, 
Mich., lost about one hundred head of sheep during the winter 



WORMS IN HORSES. 67 

of 1888-89 from lung worms. These sheep wasted away to 
mere skeletons before death. • 

TREATMENT. 

Change pasture, then place the sheep in a close building 
where they will be compelled to inhale the fumes of sulphur, 
which is to be burned quite freely once a day, giving inter- 
nally one tablespoonful of turpentine in two ounces of raw 
oil every other day for a week, then every three days for a 
while. In very bad cases I would recommend the injection of 
one-half teaspoon of turpentine into the windpipe with the 
hypodermic syringe (See Index). You will sometime find 
these worms in calves (called hoose) and pigs, which are to 
be treated the same as sheep. 

WORMS IN HORSES. 

Horses are affected with worms and bots. The term 
hoose in cattle and husk in sheep are due to the presence of 
small worms in the lungs. Worms in the horse are of differ- 
ent varieties and are often a source of great irritation. 

SYMPTOMS. 

The coat staring and unthrifty, ravenous appetite, but the 
food taken apparently does no good. Occasionally an animal 
may be infested with worms in numbers sufficient to cause 
dropsical swellings of the legs, which may extend along the 
belly. The positive symptoms are the passage of worms in 
the feces, or imprisoned in the anas. Very often you will see 
a light-colored, floury substance around the anas caused by 



68 SCOURING ON THE ROAD. 

the worms having been imprisoned. The motion of the worm 
causes the animal to rub his tail against any convenient 
object. 

TREATMENT. 

Give a scalded bran mnsh well salted at night. The next 
morniug give a purgative ball. In 36 hours give a turpentine 
drench followed by powdered copperas in a te?,spoonful dose 
three times a d iy for a week, or until the feces (manure) is 
black, then give a laxative ball followed by the turpentiue 
dreuch every 24 hours until the bowels move freely. Then 
give quinine in 15 grain dosts three times a day until the 
appetite is good and the animal begins to thrive. 

SCOURING ON THE ROAD. 

This may be be due to bad or defective teeth, dyspepsia, 
or a relaxed condition of the bowels from any cause. These 
animals are sometimes called " washy " horses. 

symptoms. 

The animal when taken from the stable appears to be in 
good condition, but after you have driven a short distance the 
bowels begin to move off quite freely, and each stool is a little 
more moist and watery. Nervous, bad, or long coupled horses 
are the ones most often affected. 

treatment. 

First examine the mouth, and should you find anything 
wrong' with the teeth correct it, and then look to the food, as 



DIARRHCEA— HORSES. 69 

it should be of the best quality. If the quality is all right 
then look to the quantity, which must be regulated. Inter- 
nally give the turpentine drench followed by powdered sul- 
phate of iron in teaspoonful doses three times a day for a 
week. As a preventative give such horses one ounce of tinc- 
ture of opium in a gill of water on leaving the stable for a 
drive. 

DIARRHOEA— HORSES. 

Narrow-loined, flat-sided, spindle-shank, long-backed 
horses are the ones most often aflected, although a well-built, 
nervous horse may be affected. 

TREATMENT. 

Raw linseed oil; eight ounces; tincture of opium, two 
ounces ; good gin, four ounces ; mix. Give all at once as a 
drench; followed by powdered sulphate of iron in teaspoonful 
doses three times a day for a week. 

Should the diarrhoea continue after 12 hours take of tinc- 
ture of opium, two ounces; prepared chalk, two ounces ; raw 
flour gruel, one pint ; mix. Give all at once as a drench and 
repeat the dose every four hours until the purging is checked. 

DIARRHCEA— CATTLE. 

DYSENTARY, BLOODY MURREN, BLOODY FLUX. 

This disease is seen in both the acute and chronic forms 
in cattle. It may be induced by bad food or putrid water. 

SYMPTOMS. 

In the acute form there will be shivering fits, arched back, 
the animal grunts at every breath, grinds its teeth, a frequent 



70 ANARSACA. 

discharge from the howels of a mu co-purulent matter mixed 
with small lumps of feces and blood, there is much straining, 
some abdominal pain evinced by the arched back and whisk- 
ing of the tail, great dullness and rapid wasting away. In 
the sub-acute or chronic form we have the foregoing with the 
addiiional symptoms, looseness of the teeth, the feces is dis- 
charged involuntarily, the eyes dim and sunk into the head, 
the feces contains a gaseous material, which causes the ap- 
pearances of air bubbles upon their surface when expelled 
from the body. 

TREATMENT. 

Place the animal in a good dry place with plenty ot 
good dry straw for a bed. Then take of raw linseed oil, two 
pints ; tincture of opium, two ounces ; spirits turpentine, two 
ounces ; tanic acid, two drams ; mix. Give all at once as a 
drench. Six hours later take of quinine, one-half dram ; 
tincture of opium, two ounces ; raw flour gruel, two pints. 
Mix and give. Repeat this dose every six hours until relieved. 
Give rectal injections of raw oil, one-half pint, every time you 
give the medicine. As soon as the diarrhoea is checked and 
the animal begins to improve give sulphate of iron, one-half 
tablespoonful three times a day in feed or on the tongue for a 
week or so. 

ANASARCA. 

SWELLED OR STALKED LEGS, SWELLED SHEATH, ETC. 

This is due to a relaxed condition of the capilliary sys- 
tem, the blood vessels become dilated, the walls thinned and 
the blood passes through into the surrounding flesh. This is 



GLANDERS. 71 

called extravasation of blood into the surrounding tissue with- 
out which there is no sxcelling. Heavy horses and those with 
round fleshy legs are most liable to it. Horses stabled in idle- 
ness uutil they are out of condition, and then put to work, are 
liable to this ail. Washing the legs and allowing them to dry 
in the air is another cause. Scratches and cracked heels will 
produce it, or it may be the result of improper bandaging. 
Kicks, bruises or injuries of any kind will cause a swelling. 
If due to inflammation there will be pain ; if not, there will 
be none. 

TREATMENT. 

Give a scalded bran mash, followed in 12 hours by a 
physic ball. Then give in mild cases the following : Pow- 
dered iron sulphate, four ounces ; potash, nitrate, eight ounces ,' 
mix. Give one table spoonful three times a day in the feed 
or on the tongue until all is given. 

In obstinate cases you will give the alterative tonic in- 
stead of the above prccription. Externally bathe the legs or 
swollen parts with the white lotion three or four times a day. 

GLANDERS. 

This is is the most loathsome of all diseases known to the 
equine race, and in preparing this description it has been my 
intention to give you the prominent diagnostic symptoms in 
plain terms, along with which I have given you what seems to 
me to be the birthplace of glanders — its first source or origin 

ACUTE GLANDERS 

Is transmissable to all domesticated animals and man ex- 
cept the cow. The first symptoms are a rigor (chill) of the 



72 GLANDERS. 

most persisting character, a rise of temperature to 105° or 106°, 
and it may run as high as 109° ; the respiration hurried, 
flanks tucked up, the pulse feeble and rapid, the heart pal- 
pitating, the appetite gone, the visible mucous membrane at 
first of a dark, copper color with patches of ecchymosis of a 
dark red hue ; these patches are speedily converted into ragged 
edged ulcers from which issues a copious discharge. The sub- 
maxillary glands enlarge and other lymphatic glands become 
inflamed, raise up suppurate and burst, discharging a puru- 
lent pus?. The discharge from the nose may be from both 
nostrils, but usually from the left one only. The discharge is 
at first watery, then purulent. The peculiarity of the glander 
discharge is that of its being sticky, adhering to the nostrils, 
having a tendency to close them up. There may be fceter 
(stink), but it does not smell so bad as the discharge from 
nasal gleet, with which it is often confounded. The enlarge- 
ment in the angle of the under jaw in glanders differs from 
other throat affections ; the enlargment being on either side 
close to or adhered to the jaw bone. If the discharge is from 
but one nostril the enlarged gland will be on the same side as 
that of the discharge. Another peculiarity is that the dis- 
charge has a greenish cast. We also have other catarrhal af- 
fections, the discharge of which has a greenish cast at certain 
seasons of the year, but they are easily distinguished from 
glanders. I have but little doubt that some of my readers 
will ask the question : Where does glanders come from, or 
from whence is its first origin? Does it not come from horse 
distemper? No, sir ; it does not ! At least I am sure that 
horse distemper would have to degenerate into something else 
before it would run into glanders. Besides, I have never 
known or heard of such a termination. I will tell you the 
diseases most likely to degenerate into glanders — diabetes in- 



CHRONIC GLANDERS. ' a 

sipidus and its complications. Those diseases do, occasionally, 
degenerate into glanders; and some authors say that any debil- 
itating disease is l'able to terminate in glanders. This state- 
ment, I think, is untrue. 

Again, some of you may ask, "What is diabetes ? Dia- 
betes is a disease brought about by giving food which contains 
an undue amount of heating properties, such as musty hay or 
oats, which stimulates the urinary organs, increasing their 
functions ; other organs become involved, the animal rapidly 
wastes away, changing from a fat, sleek horse to a mere skele- 
ton in a few weeks. This great waste of flesh is the result of 
non-assimilation of food ; that is to say that the food taken 
does no good ; the building up process is, in some cases, en- 
tirely suspended, while the tearing down or wearing out pro- 
cess continues to increase daily, causing great waste and pov- 
erty of blood. This disease, I think, is the birth place of 
glanders. 

CHRONIC GLANDERS. 

This form of glanders is the one to be most dreaded, 
from the fact that there are instances reported where it could 
not be detected before death e\en by experts. And I know 
of no better illustration of the occult nature of this most 
loathsome disease than the one furnished on Page 324 of the 
State Board of Health for 1879, by Professor Spinola, of 
Berlin, Germany. 




DESCRIPTION OF THE SKELETON OF THE HORSE. 



i. Cranium. 

2. Lower Jaw. 

3. Cervical Vertebrae; 

4. Dorsal Vertebrae. 

5. Lumbar Vertebrae. 

6. Sacrum. 

7. Coccygeal Vertebrae. 
9-9. True Ribs. 

10-10. Cartilages of Ribs. 

ii-ii. False Ribs. 

12-12. Cartilages of False 

Ribs. 
13. Scapula. 
48. Humerus. 



15. 


Radius. 


31. 


Ospedis. 


16. 


Elbow. 


3-- 


Os Naviculare. 


17. 


Trapezium. 




Pelvis. 


18. 


Cuneiform. 


37. 


Femur. 


19- 


Lunar. 


38. 


Tibia. 


20. 


Trapezoid. 


39. 


Os Calsis. 


21. 


Os Magnum. 


40. 


Astralagus. 


22. 


Scaphoid. 


41. 


Cuniform Magnum 


23. 


Unciform. 


42- 


Cuneiform Meidum 


24- 


Great Metacarpal. 


43- 


Cuboid. 


26. 


Small Metacarpal. 


45. 


Great Metatarsal. 


28. 


Sesamoid. 


46. 


Small Metatarsal. 


29. 


Os Suffraginis. 


49- 


Fibula. 


3°- 


Os Corona. 


s. 


Sternum. 



LAMENESS AND SHOEING. 



CHAPTER II. 



Causes, Symptoms and Treatment, With Practical 
Hints- -Illustrated. 

LAMENESS. 

The word lame, according to some authors, comes from 
the Anglo-Saxon word lam, weak; the term lame and weak 
are synonymous in some parts of the country ; thus it is a 
common expression to hear "that is a lame excuse" for a poor 
excuse, a "lame sermon" for a poor, weak sermon, etc. 

Lameness is not a disease, but is a sign of disease ; or 
rather an expression of pain. Lameness may arise from dis- 
eases apart from the limb, such as spinal or nerve diseases and 
occasionally from disease of the liver or kidneys. Lameness 
may exist for a short time without disease ; the expression of 
pain from a gravel lodged in the' shoe, or an ill-fitting shoe, 
but if the cause of pain be allowed to remain for any length 
of time inflammation is sure to follow. Thus it will be seen 
that disease exists much oftener without lameness than lame- 
ness without disease. 

LOCATING LAMENESS. 

The readiness with which some men are able to detect and 
locate lameness seems to be an instinct or natural gift, while 



76 THE HORSE'S FOOT. 

to others it is no easy task. "When a lame animal is presented 
for examination the first thing to ascertain which is the lame 
leg or legs. This may seem an easy matter, yet at times is 
attended with much difficulty. For example, a horse lame in 
the left front leg is trotted from you, he may seem lame in the 
right hind leg, for the quarters seem to rise and fall. But 
when the horse is trotted towards you it will be readily seen 
that the motion of the hind quarters depends upon the raising 
and dropping of the head and body. You will then see that 
the lameness is in the front leg. Another difficulty is the 
location ; when the lameness is in both front legs such horses, 
although the head does rise and fall in proportion to the lame- 
ness, yet they have a rolling motion to the body quite per- 
ceptible to the close observer. Lameness in both hind legs 
is more easily distinguished. Each particular lameness will 
be fully explained under their respective heads. 

THE HORSE'S FOOT. 

There is no subject that calls for more attention than 
the consideration of the horse's feet. At the present time so 
great is the ignorance among the owners of horses that most 
of the lameness arises from the mismanagement of this all-im- 
portant part of the animafe An old adage is "no foot, no 
horse." This is only too true. Writers upon this subject are 
numerous and nearly all have' run in the same channel, pro- 
mulgating false ideas from one generation to another to the 
great destruction of the usefulness of the horse. The preju- 
dices are so great and deeply rooted that it is dangerous for 
any one to try to teach a more rational doctrine, and undoubt- 
edly some of the readers of this article will brand its author as 
a crank or something worse. 



THE HORSE'S FOOT. 77 

Nearly every one looks upon the foot as a very wonderful 
and complicated piece of mechanism, and do not stop to con- 
sider that no matter how complicated it may be within it is 
enclosed in a simple horny box, and that all efforts of shoeing 
should be directed to preserve that box in a natural condition 
and its position in relation to the limb should not be altered 
by shape or form of the shoe. Some believe that the horny 
foot is an elastic organ and that its elasticity should be kept 
intact by paring the sole, peculiar nailing on of the shoe by 
keeping the wall as moist as possible, etc.; while some claim 
that mechanical advantage can be given to the tendons by 
the form and weight of the shoe. All these ideas are errors 
and have proved themselves as such when put into practice. 

The hoof is built of tube3 matted together. These tubes 
are similar to hair and are secreted by the same kind of cells. 
Horn is spoken of by some authors as being built or hairs 
firmly matted together. The Wall of the foot is the part 
which is visible when the foot rests on the ground, and is di- 
vided into toe, quarters and heels. The Sole is a thick plate 
of horn which occupies the ground surface of the foot except 
that part which is protected by the frog and bars. The Frog is 
a prominent mass of spongy horn lodged between the bars, fill- 
ing up the triangular space. The horn of the frog differs con- 
siderable from that of the wall or sole, being much finer and 
softer. The color of the hoof varies, but usually corresponds 
to that of the neighboring skin. The hoof, which forms a 
horny box, contains the pedis bone, the navicular bone and 
the coronea bone, the lateral cartilage (soft part of the heel), 
the sensitive frog, the sensitive lamina and sensitive sole, the 
ligaments and tendons which forms the attachments, the blood 
vessels and arteries which supply life and nourishment ; also 
the nerves which impart the sense of feeling. The shape of 



THE HORSE'S FOOT 



the horse's foot is by many said to be round — describing a 
circle. While this may be true of some feet it is not true of 
all. 




[the right foot.] 

Being a practical as well as a theoretical shoer, I am 
able to speak from experience. I have found many, in fact 
the majority, of all feet with the inside of the hoof less round- 
ing than the outside and the longest point of the foot inside of 
the center at the toe, as is shown in the cut. This pro- 
minence or long point the average horse shoer removes by 
making the shoe to fit his eye (round), which he nails on 
the foot ; then he takes his toe knife and chops off the inner 
part of the foot which so changes the swing of the foot that it 
comes in contact with Ihe fetlock of the grounded foot, caus- 
ing what is called Interfering, of which we will speak later on. 
In the first place, taking the normal foot as a guide, the 
frog, bars and sole of the foot should never be cut away, as is 
the common practice. Secondly, all calkings and toe pieces 
should be done away with for all horses except those used for 



QUARTER CRACKS. 79 

heavy draught. All horses that are required to go faster than 
a walk are injured by calks. Farm horses are better without 
shoes, as are all others, but if you must shoe, then use a thin, 
flat shoe, so that the frog will come in contact with the ground. 
The shoe should be so made and fitted as to bear upon all parts 
of the sole and wall that are calculated to bear pressure, and I 
am of the opinion that the sole as well as the wall is intended 
to perform its portion of the weight-bearing function; the frog 
allowed to come in contact with the ground to prevent con- 
cussion, thus the weight of the animal is diffused over an ex- 
tended surface and not limited to the wall alone, as is the 
common way of shoeing. Slipping is prevented by the rim of 
the shoe and the wedge-shaped frog grasping the ground. 
The shape of the frog is such that in the bare-foot horse we 
have an expansion and contraction of the heel at every step 
the horse takes. As soon as you place a high heel shoe on 
the foot, lifting the frog from the ground, you prevent the frog 
from, performing the office which nature designed it, thus 
causing atrophy, feyer, inflammation, contraction, thrush, 
corns, quarter cracks, etc In fact 90 per cent, of all unsound- 
ness is the result of shoeing, and no man can shoe a horse 
except he injures the foot to a greater or less extent. Now, al- 
low me to repeat, in the first place, do not shoe at all; secondly, 
if you do, let it be a very thin, light shoe, just enough to sup- 
plant the deficiency of nature ; do not load the animal down 
with iron, straining the tendons as well as injuring the foot. 

QUARTER CRACKS. 

Are generally found on the inner side of the foot and are 
most frequent in the forward feet. Sometimes, however, they 
are found in the middle or other parts of the foot. They may 



80 QUARTER CRACKS. 

or may not produce lameness, although I have seen some very 
bad cases of lameness arising from cracked hoofs. 




[ QUARTER CRACKS.] 

TREATMENT. 

First clip the hair off around the coronary band for an 
inch and a half or two inches wide, then you will (put a twist 
on the nose) take a sparp knite and cut through the skin for 
a distance of an inch each way from the crack just above the 
hoof at the junction of the hoof and hair, as indicated by the 
dark mark on the engraving ; be sure to cut entirely through 
the skin (you need not be afraid of the blood as it will not 
bleed much) ; you will now take a flat, red hot iron and burn 
the edges of the wound enough to sear them over, after which 
you will remove the twist and take a sharp shoeing knife and 
pare away the hoof immediately below the cut in a V shape, 
commencing about one and one-quarter inches from the hair 
and gradually widening each way from the crack until you 
have cut one and one-half inch wide at the hair. This 



QUARTER CRACKS. 81 

forms a V removing the pressure from the parts, often reliev- 
ing the lameness at once or in a day or two, if you are thor- 
ough and cut the V deep enough, which will be when the 
blood starts. If you intend to allow the animal to go without 
shoes rasp away the hoof at the heel on the affected side as 
shown in the engraving. But if the animal is to be shod, the 
shoe should be cut off at the quarter wearing only a three 
quarter shoe, or you will have to cut away the hoof at the heel, 
as shown in the engraving, and apply the common shoe. Be 
sure to remove all pressure from the heel and keep it away 
until a new hoof is grown. You will now wash the foot to 
the fetlock perfectly clean and allow it time to dry, then 
apply the fly blister, (See Index) rubbing it in well all around 
the coronary band where the hair has been clipped, being 
careful not to get any of the blister in the hollow of the heel, 
as it will be troublesome to treat after it is once made sore on 
account of the quick action of the joint. Allow the blister to 
remain for 48 hours undisturbed, then wash it off with warm 
soap suds ; when dry grease with sweet oil or lard for three or 
four days and repeat the blistering, washing and greasing 
every six weeks until you have a new hoof, which will be 
much thicker and stronger than the old one. If properly 
treated this is a sure cure. Should the crack be a bad one 
and the opening large, you had better pour in a little hot tar, 
which will remove the soreness. Be sure to keep all pressure 
off of the affected heel (as well as all other heels) for pressure 
is the most fruitful cause of quarter cracks, especially where 
the shoe is allowed to rest on the wall with no sole pressure. 
Cracks in any part of the foot are to be treated the same ex- 
cept with regard to shoeing. A toe crack should have the 



83 THE OIL CAKE POULTICE. 

pressure removed from the two first nails on either side for- 
forward. 

CORNS. 

A corn is the result of a bruise, the first appearance is 
a dark, "blood shot" spot in the triangular space included be- 
tween the bars and wall at the heel of the front feet and 
usually the inside heel, although a horse may have a corn on 
both heels of the same foot. Corns take on a variety of 
changes; they may change to a horny tumor, or they may 
suppurate (form matter), or the inflammation may extend to 
the lateral cartilage (soft part of the heel) terminating in a 
bony tumor commonly called a sidebone. 

Causes. — Shoeing appears to be about the only cause of 
corns, and in my estimation the common concave seated shoe 
is the most insane invention that man's brain ever invented. 
It bears upon no part of the sole except upon the part that is 
incapable of bearing pressure It is scooped out or made 
concave all around the foot except an inch or so at the heel, 
the result of which is corns. A horse with corns is considered 
unsound although they may not at the time cause lameness. 

TREATMENT. 

If the foot is hot and feverish remove the shoe, soak the 
foot in hot water for an hour or two and then poultice. 

THE OIL CAKE POULTICE. 

Take of the oil cake meal one quart, warm water to make 
a thick mush, a piece of coffee sack about two feet square ; 
spread it out on the floor and place the mush in the center, 



CORNS. 



83 



pat it down a little hollow and pour one ounce of spirits of 
turpentine in this hollow, then set the foot on top of the mush 
and gather the coffee sack up around the leg and tie a stout 
string or buckle a short strap between the fetlock and hoof 
tight enough to keep it in place. Allow the poultice to re- 
main for 24 hours when it should be renewed. A poultice 
should have warm water poured over and down the leg into it 
once every two or three hours, as warmth and moisture are its 
essential parts. 




THE PROPER WAY TO SHOE FOR CORNS WHEN YOU ARE 
COMPELLED TO USE CALKS. 



You will now remove the poultice and pare off the wall 
and sole alike until you have removed the corn, do not dig a 
hole into the foot leaving the wall and bar to form a funnel 
shaped opening to receive and hold all the dirt and filth that 
comes in contact with the foot. I have seen horses die of locked- 
jaw from this cause. Cut away the wall from the quarter 



84 



CORNS. 



back to the depth of the corn, as shown in the engraving. If 
the corn has suppurated a free opening must be made, after 
which you are to syringe it out with spirits turpentine and 
then pour in a little hot tar, after which you may put in a 
small piece of cotton ; enough to keep the dirt out, but not 
enough to fill the opening, causing pressure. You may have to 
repeat your poultice now for two or three days, or even longer in 
bad cases. If the hoof becomes hard and dry afcer you remove 
your poultice clip the hair and apply the fly blister around 
the top of the hoof two or three inches wide. Allow it to 
remain untouched for 24 hours, then wash and grease in the 
usual manner. 




[the three-quarter shoe.] 



The radical cure is to be effected by proper shoeing and 
the three-quarter shoe is certain and speedy, and recommends 
itself to all unbiased practical men. 



OSSIFIED LATERAL CARTILAGE. 85 

INTERNAL TREATMENT. 

Give a physic ball at once in all bad cases followed by 
one tablespoonful of nitrate of potash three times a day in 
the feed for three or four days. 

OSSIFIED LATERAL CARTILAGE. 

ENLARGED HEELS, SORE HEELS, HARD HEELS, LAME HEELS. 

The cartilage which forms the soft structure of the heels 
situated above and on either side of the frog frequently take 
on a bony growth. Only one or both heels may become in- 
volved, sometimes a slight enlargement, and at other times it 
assumes an enormous size. I removed an ossified lateral car- 
tilage for Mr. Horace Merrick, of Big Springs, Mich., from 
the heel of a large Norman mare, that was nearly as large as 
the foot itself, with good recovery. 

Causes — Are hereditary, predisposing, and shoeing with 
high healed shoes. It is generally admitted by the best author- 
ity that side-bones are hereditary, and that high-heeled shoes 
are also a cause, for the shock received by the heels when the 
foot strikes the ground is transmitted directly to the cartilage. 
Secondly, because the pressure upon the wall at the 
the heel is unnatural and excessive, the frog being raised from 
off the ground it forms no support. An injury to the soft part 
of the heel is liable to terminate in a side-bone, corns have 
been known to terminate in side-bones, one horse stepping on 
another's heel is a fruitful cause, barbed wire cuts are very 
apt to terminate in side-bones, speed horses that over-reach, 
(jump onto themselves), bruising their heels are liable to 
side-bones. 



86 OSSIFIED LATERAL CARTILAGE. 

SYMPTOMS. 

In examining for side-bones yon should press upon the 
cartilage, which is soft, yielding and elastic in the healthy 
foot, but becomes hard, unyielding and more or less enlarged. 
Side-bone lameness differs from ring-bone and most other 
forms of lameness, the toe of the foot first touching the ground- 

TREATMENT. 

If but one heel is affected apply the three- quarter shoe, 
if both heels are affected apply a bar shoe, rasping away the 
hoof from the heel to the first (back) nail as for corns or 
quarter cracks, freeing the foot from the shoe at least one- 
fourth of an inch. You will now clip the hair off of the en- 
largement and apply the mercurial blister (See Iudex) freely, 
rubbing it in well. Allow the blister to remain untouched for 
48 hours, then grease with soft oil or lard. Repeat this blister 
once in three weeks until you have the desired effect. If there 
is any lameness remaining after three months you will take 
the sharp pointed firing iron, first strapping up the well leg, 
(do not allow any one to hold it, but strap it up), put a twist 
on the nose or ear, then take the iron at a white 
heat and burn from three to five holes into the enlarge- 
ment quite deep — say three-eighths to one-half inch deep 
— now remove your strap and twist and rub the holes 
you have burned full ot the mercurial blister and repeat 
your blister as before. This treatment will cure the majority 
of cases, but rarely we find a case that this treatment will do 
no good ; then we must resort to *Neurotomy. This is a very 

* Dividing the nerve which removes the sense of feeling from 
the affected parts. 



NAVICULAR DISEASE. 87 

simple operation for a qualified veterinary surgeon to per- 
form, and if the foot be a good one will give satisfactory re- 
sults. I have always been careful in my selection of feet, and 
have never seen any bad results following Neurotomy. A 
flat-footed horse should never be nerved, and one that is 
nerved should be driven carefully over rough, stony, or hard 
frozen roads, as he is entirely deprived of the sense of feeling 
in the nerved foot or feet. 

NAVICULAR DISEASE. 

COFFIN JOINT DISEASE, POINTING THE FEET, ETC. 

This is a disease upon which a whole volume might be 
Avritten, and is, of truth, a source of great annoyance to the 
practitioner as well as a great pecuinary loss to the horse 
owner. It usually developes itself slowly, consequently the 
owner is not much alarmed until it has passed beyond the 
reach of medical aid. The first stage is that of inflammation, 
and all efforts should be used to stop the inflammation before 
an alteration of the structure has taken place. This struct- 
ural change is indicated by what is commonly called contrac- 
tion. 

CONTRACTION. 

Contraction is not a cause, but the result of disease ; a 
wasting away of the structure contained within the horny box. 
Many contribute contraction to standing on a hard, dry floor, 
etc , but from actual observation I find that the bare-footed 
horce, although compelled to stand on the dry hard floor is 
rarely affected with contraction. Hence I have come to the 
conclusion that the majority of all contracted feet are the 



88 



CONTRACTION. 



result of shoeing with high calkings. This throws the frog 
into disuse, in consequence of which it dries up and wastes 
away the same as any other organ that is thrown into disuse. 




THE PROPER WAY TO SHOE A FOOT FOR CONTRACTION. 

For an example a horse that has a spavin of long standing 
bearing his weight upon the sound leg with the lame leg 
flexed, throws the muscles of the hip into disuse, which grad- 
ually waste away. This is also true of the shoulder in foot 
lameness. Contraction does not cause lameness ; on the other 
hand nearly all foot lameness causes contraction. 

SYMPTOMS. 

The lameness is manifested in two ways : First — Sud- 
denly and perhaps without apparent cause ; very often after 
the horse is newly shod. It is then attributed to some fault 



NAVICULAR ARTHRITIS. 89 

in the nailing. After a while the lameness may dissappear 
and in an indefinite time reappear either in the same foot or 
in its mate. Second — By a slow process in one or both feet, 
and this is the most common form, the first noticeable sign 
being pointing of the foot followed by lameness, which may 
be of a transient character. For example a horse may go 
from the stable apparently sound, but the driver occasionally 
imagines that he is going a trifle lame. The foot is examined 
but nothing found, he is driven again and again with the 
same results, until the lameness becomes quite noticeable. If 
at this period the articulating surface of the joint becomes 
involved we have 

NAVICULAR ARTHRITIS. 

A CHRONIC INFLAMMATION OF THE BONY STRUCTURE. 




[the seaton needle.] 



Remove the shoe and then poultice for two or three days 
then wash the foot and rasp off the bottom until you have it 
in shape and apply a blister all around the pastern from 
the hoof up nearly to the fetlock joint being careful not to 
blister the hollow of the heel, allow the blister to remain from 
24 to 36 hours, then wash it off once a day for two or three 
days and oil the blistered surface with sweet oil or soft grease. 



•»0 NAVICULAR ARTHRITIS. 

With from six weeks to two months' rest this treatment will 
cure all mild cases. Should you have a severe case you will 
add to this treatment the following: After the foot has been 
trimmed and poulticed as reccommended above, just before 
applying the blister you will nail a common shoe on (be sure 
to free the heels), then you will pass aseaton (commonly called 
a rowell) down through the frog with a curved Seaton Needle 
(See Engraving). Insert the needle at the hollow of the heel, 
passing down through the fro^, coming out about the middle 
ol the frog. Pare away the frog until the blood starts at the 
place where your needle is to come out before you insert 
the needle. Pass your needle down through the right, and up 
through the left foot. Put a twist on the nose, and if you are 
a little (piick you can pick up the foot and pass the needle 
through before the horse knows what you are about. Tie the 
ends of the seaton loose enough so that you can move it a 
little every day. If the string is too long he will be liable to 
step on it with the other foot. Allow the frog seaton to re- 
main for three or four weeks. After you have put in the 
seaton you will apply the blister as already described. After 
you have washed off your blister and oiled for three days you 
will again wash with hot soap suds perfectly clean and bathe 
the blistered surface once a day with "White Lotion" (See 
Index), using it on the seaton and all about the foot until the 
seaton is removed. 

INTERNAL TREATMENT. 

Give a laxative ball or drench at once followed by a 
bran mash in all cases and in bad cases give a tonic in addi- 
tion, and the following is a good one : Powdered nitrate of 



THRUSH. 91 

potash, one pound ; quinine, six to eight drams, rubbed to- 
gether. Give one tablespoonful three times a day in feed or 
on the tongue. 

THRUSH. 

A discharge from the frog which smells very offensive. 
The center of the frog is the part usually affected, and if al- 
lowed to run it will spread over the entire foot. 

Causes. — The external causes of thrush are standing in 
filth and being allowed to run in a wet, muddy paddock or 
barn yard. When arising from external causes it is easily 
cured. 

TREATMENT. 

Wash with warm water, cleaning out the frog and bars 
nicely, then apply a little nitric acid, working it well down 
into the diseased parts with cotton batting. Remove the cotton 
after a day or two, and should there be any sign of the disease 
remaining sprinkle in a little calomel, tamping it in with 
cotton as before, observing cleanliness minutely. When aris- 
ing from internal causes such as swelled legs, greese, etc., the 
treatment is sometimes tedious. 

INTERNAL TREATMENT. 

Give a scalded bran mash followed by a laxative ball or 
drench. Then take of iodide of potash, four ounces ; crystal 
iodine, two drams ; water, one pint. Put the medine into a 
bottle, then pour in the water, shake for a moment and it is 
ready for use. Of this give one tablespoonful in a feed of 
dry oats and bran, well rubbed together, three times a day. 



93 CANKER OF THE FOOT. 

After you have given one prescription wait a week or two, and 
should you see no signs of improvement repeat this treatment 
verbatum until you have the desired effect. This treatment, 
along with the external treatment already given, has never 
failed me in my extensive practice. 

CANKER OF THE FOOT. 

Heavy horses are more susceptible to this disease than 
lighter ones. All are, however, alike liable to it from the 
same cause, viz: Punctured wounds, gravel in the foot and 
bruises of the sole and frog. It is usually confined to one foot, 
but if the animal is predisposed to canker, two, three or all 
feet may be affected. 

SYMPTOMS. 

A short time after the foot has been wounded in any 
manner you will notice a fungus growth appear, which pro- 
trudes from the wound ; it is vascular and bleeds easily ; the 
horse will be exceedingly lame. It may extend over the 
whole bottom of the foot. The sole is absorbed and the foot 
contracts rapidly, the lameness increasing daily until the horse 
will only touch the toe to the ground. 

TREATMENT. 

Remove all the horn or hoof near the canker, then re- 
move all the fungus growth that you can with the knife; do not 
be afraid of the blood, as it will stop when you apply a dress- 
ing of nitric acid. You are to apply a little nitric acid to the 
sore once a day until it stops growing, then dress with hot tar 



CANKER OF THE FOOT. 93 

every day or two. If the lameness is very great you will 
apply a good blister all around the foot from the hoof half 
way to the fetlock except the hollow of the heel, and it is a 
good practice to blister in all cases, as it stimulates the growth 
of the hoof and hastens the recovery. In all cases you are 
to remove all of the detached horn, which may include the 
frog, or it may include the frog and sole both, and should you 
remove both you are to apply a dressing of warm tar and tow, 
oakum or cotton, over which you are to tie a piece of stout 
cloth, or what is better, cut out a piece of tough wood the size 
and shape of the foot one inch thick and nail on an old boot 
leg forming a boot or shoe, making holes for strings to lace it 
up like a shoe. This can be removed easily, which should be 
done as often as may be deemed necessary, and I do not think 
it is best to interfere with such a sore too often, as the dressing 
excites an abnormal growlh — just the thing we must here over- 
come. Any unhealthy or red looking spots are to be touched 
over with a feather dipped in nitric acid as often as may be 
necessary to keep them from growing out beyond the sur- 
rounding parts. 

INTERNAL TREATMENT. 

If in good condition give a laxative ball or drench at 
once, and a scalded bran mash every day or so. Give of the 
following one tablespoonful two or three times a day : Pow- 
dered starch, one pound; arsenous acid, two and one-half 
drams, rubbed well together, and it is ready for use. This 
you will rub up in a feed of oats and bran three times a day. 
Along with this treatment you must use a good deal of com- 
mon sense, a great deal of patience, with an undue amount 
of perseverence and you are pretty sure of a cure. Prof. 



94 PUNCTURES. 

Williams recommends removing the entire sole in moderately 
bad cases, but I do not think it necessary only in very severe 
cases. It is best to give moderate exercise if the animal is 
not too lame, and in the worst cases he should have a large, 
loose box stall, and in no case be compelled to stand tied up 
in a narrow stall. The cathartic ball should be repeated once 
every ten to fourteen days. 

PUNCTURES— (nail in the foot.) 

Punctures from nails may or may not be serious accord- 
ing to their location and depth. Sometimes it only pene- 
trates the sole and does not cause much lameness, and you 
will have some difficulty in finding what is wrong. Not long 
since a gentleman brought a lame horse to my infirmary that 
was lame, as he said, in the right front foot, but he could not 
tell what was wrong. On examination I found a nail in the 
left foot. Another had been fired for a spavin and an exami- 
nation revealed a small wire nail an inch and a half long in 
the frog. I could give many such instances, but this will 
suffice to give you a pointer. 

SYMPTOMS. 

A horse with a nail in the hind foot will knuckle, and if 
it be in the front foot will usually point, and when the weight 
is thrown on the lame foot will bring the other forward 
quickly. 

TREATMENT. 

Examine carefully with the knife, take a hammer and 
tap lightly on the foot, holding it in your hand so that you 



GRAVEL IN THE FOOT. 95 

can feel the slightest move should he evince more pain in one 
place than another. Cut down carefully until you come to 
the soft part of the foot, which you will open carefully. 
Should you find matter there, enlarge your opening, and 
inject a little spirits of turpentine ; this being a thin liquid it 
will penetrate all parts of the diseased structure and set up a 
healthy action. After you have washed it out with turpentine 
you may pour in a little hot pine tar. It sometimes happens 
that the nail is drawn out when the horse makes the first step after 
placing his foot upon it. The wound suppurates, pus forms and 
you find the conditions just described. Should there be much 
lameness and heat you will place the foot in hot water for two 
or three hours, then poultice. Repeat this once a day until 
the lameness subsides, using the oil cake meal poultice. (See 
Index). Make a good sized opening that there may be a free 
discharge from the wound; occasionally there will be a fungus 
growth protruding from the wound, and then you have 
canker. (See Index.) 

GRAVEL IN THE FOOT. 

It sometimes happens that a small grain of sand or gravel 
will get lodged between the wall and sole of the foot. This 
may occur at any point of union of the wall and sole. 

- SYMPTOMS. 

The lameness is quickly developed, and the general symp- 
toms do not differ much from those of a nail in the foot. 

TREATMENT. 

Gravel is to be treated the same as a nail in the foot. If 
you look carefully you will be likely to find where the gravel 



96 QFITTOR. 

entered the foot by following the light colored line around the 
margin of the foot that marks the union ol wall and sole, as it 
usually leaves a dark spot which you will follow with your 
knife and probe, and a horse nail makes a very good probe 
for this purpose. After you have made an opening you are to 
poultice, following the treatment in the preceding article. 

In paring and searching lame feet great care should 
be taken not to make them bleed, as the blood obscures the 
operation and makes it difficult to follow a small spot of dis- 
coloration. When the parts are wounded with the knife they 
are liable to suppurate and cause the healing process to be 
retarded. In some cases it may be necessary to apply a bar 
shoe for a few days to remove the pressure from the diseased 
parts assimilating it over the frog and healthy part of the foot, 
and leather soles are at times very useful for this purpose. 

QUITTOR. 

A fistulous wound at the coronary band usually located 
at the quarters near the heel. Sometimes the heel ?,nd quarter 
becomes wonderfully enlarged, hot and painful, the animal 
lying around until his body is covered with sores. 

Causes — Are corns, pricks from shoeing, gravel, picked- 
up nails, bruises, etc. 

TREATMENT. _ 

If from any external cause make a good opening at the 
bottom of the foot, wash it out with a syringe and warm water 
from above and below, then inject one or two tablespoonfuls 
of the following : Powdered corrosive sublimate, one dram ; 
water, two ounces ; hydrochloric acid ten drops ; be sure and 
force this in each and every opening, then apply the oil cake 



RING-BONE. 97 

meal poultice. (See Index.) Repeat the poultice daily 
for three or four days then wash and blister with the fly 
bl'ster. This will generally effect a cure. Should this fail 
you will have to enlarge the openings by inserting a sharp 
knife to their bottom, then introduce a small piece of lunar 
caustic into each sinus (pipe or opening) as far as possible, and 
apply a "Wood Ashes Poultice."* 

THE WOOD ASHES POULTICE 

Is made as follows : Take a piece of coffee sack two feet 
square, spread it out on the stable floor, then take two quarts 
of nice, fresh ashes from the stove, wet them with warm water 
sufficient to make a mush, place this on the coffee sack and 
put the diseased foot into it ; be sure that the ashes covers the 
sore. This is to remain 24 hours, then remove, wash and 
apply the oil cake poultice. You must use the ashes poultice 
carefully as it is liable to blemish by destroying the skin if 
allowed to remain on too long. This treatment has been very 
successful. However, quittor is a disease that requires patience 
and perse verence. Should this treatment fail to produce the 
desired effe ct you will be obliged to call in a qualified veterin- 
ary surgeon and have him operate by cutting out the whole 
diseased quarter. This operation requires the use of chloro- 
form. 

RING-BONE. 

This is a name given to a boney enlargement found upon 
the lower and upper pastern bones just above the hoof. 

* Note. — While any own experience with this poultice is some- 
what limited, Mr. H. L. King, of Benton Harbor, who has devoted 
much time to the treatment of lameness, says that this remedy has 
. always been successful in the treatment of quittor. 



OS TRUE RING-BONE, 

Ring-bones are of two kinds — true and false. The false ring- 
bone might be called a splint, as it is of the same nature- 
When very large it causes lameness, but as a rule it causes no 
inconvenience, and should not be looked upon as an un- 
soundness. 

TRUE RING-BONE. 

Is an unsoundness in every sense of the word, causing 
great and sometimes incurable lameness. Ring-bones are not 
the cause, but the result of disease. 

Causes. — Allowing the young colt's foot or hoof to grow 
out long. In the winter season they are either in the soft 
snow or in a well bedded stall so that the wear of the hoof is 
comparatively nothing, consequently they attain a consider- 
able length, which throws the weight back on the pastern 
joint causing an inflammation, exudation, and ossification, 
which means a ring-bone. This, I think, is the cause of the 
majority of ring-bones on jyoung animals. However, some 
are predisposed, inheriting them from their ancestors. An 
injury of any kind on the pastern joint is liable to terminate 
in a ring-bone. 

SYMPTOMS. 

The animal is usually .lame for a time before the enlarge- 
ment makes its appearance, due to an inflammation of the 
synovial membrane. With a ring-bone on the front pastern, 
in motion the heel touches the ground first, but when in 
the hind pastern the toe always touches the ground first. The 



THE POINTED FIRING IRON. '.'9 

lameness comes on slowly and will disappear to a great extent 
on driving. 

TREATMENT. 

If the animal goes on his toe have him shod with a spring 
heel shoe, not a long calked shoe, but a spring heel shoe, 
which is very thin at the toe and gradually thickened until it 
is an inch thicker at the heel than at the toe. Should he put 
the heel down first reverse your shoe and make it very thin at 
the heel and thick at the toe. After he is shod put him in a 
loose box stall and give him a laxative ball or drench fol- 
lowed by a scalded bran mash, withhold the hay for 12 hours ; 
give plenty of water to drink. If the bowels are not opened 
in 24 hours give one-half pint of raw oil." Bathe the affected 
parts four or five times a day with the white lotion for a week. 
Should the lameness continue after a week clip the hair off 
from the ring-bone nearly to the fetlock joint and apply the 
mercurial blister according to directions. Be careful about 
blistering the hollow of the heel, as it is troublesome to cure 
on account of the quick action. Repeat the blister once every 
three or four weeks until you have made three or four appli- 
cations. This treatment cures the majority of ring-bones. 
Should the lameness remain and the enlargement continue to 
grow you will have to use 



THE POINTED FIRING IRON. 



Take the horse into a blacksmith shop, put a twist on the 
nose and have an assistant hold it. If it be a lame front foot 



100 



THE SIDE LINE AND TWIST. 



strap up the well leg with a foot strap ; do not hold it, but 
strap it up. If the hind leg is to be fired put on 




THE SIDE LINE AND TWIST. 



Take a rope 10 or 12 feet long, tie it around the pastern 
of the well leg, pass it between the front legs over the neck 
down behind the front leg, wind it once around itself, draw 
the hind leg forward far enough to compel him to stand with 
his whole heft on the lame leg, and have an assistant hold the 
rope. You will now proceed to fire him. Have your iron as 
hot as you can get it without melting, make about three rows 
of dots around over the surface of the ring-bone about one 
inch apart ; if you burn them close together they will be 
likely to cause a blemish. When the enlargement is great 
burn deep enough to penetrate the bone. Burn from eight to 
twelve holes; do not burn too near the hoof. Now remove 
the fastenings, put him into a nice clean stall, tie his head so 
so that he cannot get to foot and apply the mercurial blister 
over the entire ring-bone, rubbing the holes full of the blister. 



BONE SPAVIN. 101 

Allow it to remain undisturbed for 48 hours when it is to be 
washed off and cared for in the usual manner. If there is 
much pain give a dose of physic followed by a scalded bran 
mash, etc. In treating a ring-bone on the hind leg you 
must always apply the spring heel shoe on the well leg to 
remove the extra strain caused by favoring the affected leg. 
A horse suffering from any kind of lameness in the hind leg 
should not be compelled to stand in one position for any great 
length of time without a sling under him, as this is itself a 
fruitful cause of coronitis* and laminitis.f Allow him a 
loose box stall in preference to turning out to pasture for the 
first four weeks of treatment, then allow him a six or eight 
weeks' run on grass. Repeat the blister once in four weeks 
until you have the desired effect. 

BONE SPAVIN. 

A spavin is an enlargement on the inner and lower part of 
the hock joint,and is the result of an inflammation 
of the gliding surface of the bones resulting in 
the complete union of two or more bones. Spavins 
are the cause of great, and frequently incur- 
able lameness. The lamness of bone spavins is 
as a rule curable in the young and middle-aged, 
[a bone spavin.] and incurable in the old horse. 

Cause. — Anything that will set up an irritation of the 
articulating surface will cause a spavin. Prof. W. Williams,- 
in his work on surgery, says that "shoeing with long calkings 
is one of the most fruitful causes of spavins," and I quite 
agree with him, and will add that the way some plates are 

* An inflammation of the corona band, which is the union of 
the hoof and hair. 
\ Founder. 




102 BONE SPAVIN. 

applied causes spavins. The outside wall of the hoot is 
thicker and stronger than the inside wall, and the average 
shoer makes the shoe to narrow at the quarter, nails it on the 
foot and rasps off the wall to fit the shoe ; this weakens both 
quarters, but on account of the difference in their thickness 
the rasping has weakened the inside so that there is no bear- 
ing at all on the quarter, the shoe resting on the toe and heel. 
The heel soon wears away, and should it withstand the exces- 
sive weight and wear until the next shoeing it is cut away to 
get a bearing for the new shoe. By this time the foot is 
rolled in sufficiently to cause great strain upon the inside of 
the hock joint, which may result in a spavin. An injury to 
the foot sufficient to cause the animal to stand on the well leg 
for 10 or 15 days is very liable to cause a spavin. For this 
reason it is always best to use a sling in such cases. An in- 
jury to the hock as a kick or blow may terminate in a spavin. 

SYMPTOMS. 

Spavin lamenes, at first is of a transitory character, will 
show itself when the animal first comes from the stable, but 
soon disappears. The lameness usually precedes the enlarge- 
ment, although we sometimes have quite an enlargement with 
little or no lameness, and should a horse having a large spavin 
be taken suddenly very lame you had better examine the foot 
closely for a nail or gravel before venturing an opinion, as I have 
seen horses fired and blistered for spavin lameness when the cause 
was in the foot. The horse having a spavin will evince more 
lameness when compelled to stand around in his stall one way 
than when standing around the other. Make him stand 
around several times each way watching him closely. If you 
are not satisfied take him out and walk him a little, noting 
carefully the amount of lameness shown, sto]D him, take up his 



HOW TO FIRE A SPAVIN. 103 

lame leg in about the same manner that a smith would to nail 
on a shoe, making the bend at the hock as short as possible, 
hold the leg in this position for two or three minutes and have 
hime led oft as soon as you let go of the leg. If there is a 
spavin he will show a great deal more lameness for a few stejos 
than before the test. A spavined horse drags or scuffs the toe 
of the lame foot while in motion, and usually rests the leg on 
the toe while standing. In cases of long standing the hip is 
usually atrophied (shrunken) away. Stand about two feet 
from the horse's head, first one side and then the other, look- 
ing at the hocks, comparing them carefully, and you will 
be likely to detect any irregularity. A horse may have a 
spavin without any enlargement. 

TREATMENT. 

It is impossible to tell whether you can cure a spavin or not' 
You cannot remove the spavin — so far it is incurable — but if 
we can get them to go sound it is what we call cured. First 
put the foot in shape by removing the shoe and paring it so 
that the hoof at the heels on each side are alike. Put a spring 
heel shoe on the well foot and turn him into a loose box stall. 
Give a physic and scalded bran mash, withhold the hay for 12 
hours, bathe the hock with white lotion for two or three days, 
then clip off the hair and apply the mercurial blister if it be a 
mild case without much enlargement, but if there be consider- 
able enlargement then fire at once. 

HOW TO FIRE A SPAVIN. 

Take the animal to a blacksmith shop put the twist on 
and attach the side line Page 100, to the well leg. Now 
take the pointed firing iron Page 99, at a white heat, and 
burn from six to ten holes. Keep the iron very sharp and 



104 



HOW TO FIRE A SPAVIN. 



burn deep ; penetrate the bone for a quarter of an inch. 
Return him -to his box stall and apply the mercurial blister, 
rubbing the holes full. Allow the blister to remain undis- 
turbed f >r 48 hours then wash it off with warm soap suds once 
a day for two days, then grease thoroughly with sweet oil or 
lard once a day for three days. Repeat the blister once in 
three or four weeks until you have the desired effect. 'Remember 
that those who have become successful in the treatment of 
lameness have done so by devising means of keeping the ani- 
mal quiet. 

TREATMENT OF PARTICULAR SPAVINS. 



You will sometimes find a large spavin with a groove 
running across it just in front of the "wart" 
on the leg. This groove is caused by a ten- 
sion of the cunean ten den, which passes over 
the seat of the spavin and is attached to the 
cuneiform bone, as shown by the accompany- 
ing cut. When you find such a spavin, secure 
the animal in the usual way. Take the 
feathered firing iron (See Index) and burn 
one stripe about an inch back of the large 
blood vessel that runs down the inside of 
[cunea>- texdox,] the leg. Make the stripe one and one-half 
inches long running up and down the leg across the groove, 
burning deep enough to cut this tendon in two. As you are 
burning the skin will draw back so that you will see the ten- 
don before it is divided ; it is white in color and three-eighths 
of an inch wide. After you have the tendon severed you may 
burn a few deep holes with the pointed iron, as already de- 





CURB.— HOW TO FIRE A CURB. 105 

scribed, and treat as in other spavins. This treatment has 
often proved successful when all others have failed. 

CURB. 

This is a sprain to the calcaneo-cuboid ligament causing 
an enlargement at the back part of the 
^'%sX hock joint about four inches below the 
"X . _' point of the oscalcis (where the "ham- 
\. ',< string" is attached to the hock). At 
Wm times they attain considerable size, again 
they may be very small, and the amount 
of lameness may not appear to depend upon their size, as I 
have often seen large curbs that seemed to give little <>rno 
inconvenience ; at other times a very small curb would cause 
the animal to go "dead lame." Curbs of recent standing 
usually cause lameness especially in the young animal. A 
horse lame from a curb stands with the leg flexe<i or extended 
under the body. Two or three days' res-t often removes the 
lameness, but it will return when put to work again. Curb 
lameness increases with exercise. 

TREATMENT. 

Have the animal shod with the spring heel shoe ; this 
removes the strain from the tendon. If hot and feverish 
bathe with the White Lotion for a few days, then clip the hair 
and apply the mercurial blister. If any enlargement remains 
after you have made three applications in the usual manner of 
blistering you will have to use the actual cautery. 

HOW TO FIRE A CURB. 

Secure the an'mal in the usual way with the side line, 
then take the feather edged iron and burn one stripe down 



10G FLY BLISTER— MERCURIAL BLISTER. 

the center of the leg the length of the curb, then burn one 
line on each side of this one about two-thirds as long and 
three-qarters of an inch from it running parallel with each 
other. Burn quite deep, but not deep enough to cut through 




[the feathered firing iron.] 

the skin. After three days apply the mercurial blister ; allow 
it to remain two days, then wash once a day for two days with 
warm water and soap, then grease with sweet oil for three 
days, then wash again with soap and warm water and bathe 
two or three times a day with the White Lotion for a week or 
two. This treatment is usually successful. 

THE FLY BLISTER. 

Powdered Spanish Flies 4 ounces 

Rosin, Spts. of Turpentine and Beeswax, each 2 " 
Lard 1<5 ounces 

Mix. Melt altogether over a slow fire and stir until cold 
when it is ready for use. dip the hair off and apply once, 
rub it in for 10 minutes, allow it to remain for 48 hours then 
wash with warm soap snds. When dry grease with sweet oil, 
lard or other soft grease. 

THE MERCURIAL BLISTER. 

F]y Blister 1 ounce 

Bed Iodide of Mercury 2 drams 

This is an excellent blister for the treatment of bony and 
fibrous growths, callous lumps, wind galls, puffs, ring-bones, 



HOW TO BLISTER. 



107 



spavins and enlargements or chronic swellings on any part of 
the horse and is to be used the same as the fly blister. 

HOW TO BLISTER. 




Clip the hair off of the entire surface to be blistered, then 
wash it perfectly clean, allow it time to dry and apply the 
blister pretty freely once. Rub it in for 10 minutes allow it to 
remain untouched for 48 hours, then wash with warm water 
and soap. When dry grease it well with sweet oil, melted 
lard or some other soft grease once a day for two or three 
days. 

To obtain the full effect of a blister a quantity of the oint- 
ment should be laid on after the rubbing in is completed. 

GENERAL REMARKS ON BLISTERING. 

Never blister more than two legs at one time and three 
weeks are to elapse before the others are blistered. 

HOAV OFTEN. 



No blister should be repeated oftener than once in three 
or four weeks, and do not blister too large a surlace at one 
time, as you are apt to get up a constitutional disturbance. 
In this case you must wash the blister off at once perfectly 



108 GENERAL REMARKS ON BLISTERING. 

clean, oil the surface wiih sweet oil and give in a half cup of 
water a tablespoouful of bi-carbouate of soda three or four 
times a day. 

SWELLING. 

Sometimes blisters, no matter how carefully they are ap- 
plied, will cause extensive swelling wiih a tendency to suppur- 
ate. This is due to the animal's general bad health borderiug 
on erysipelatous diseases. Treatment consists of purgatives 
and diuretics* internally. Wash the affected parts perfectly 
clean with warm water and soap, then bathe freely every two 
or three hours with the White Lotion. 

TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS. 

Fix the horse so that he cannot bite the blistered surface 
or rub it with his lip and nose, and thus blister the mouth 
also. Some horse? are nervous and will rub themselves. This 
must be prevented as it is apt to cause a blemish. 

DREAD OF BLISTERING. 

The average man has a perfect dread of blistering. You 
just say to a man, " That horse needs blistering," and the 
chances are that he will say " I'll wait awhile and see if he 
will get better without it, for I do not want him blemished." 
How absurd to think a blister cannot be so managed as to 
leave no mark. Whenever your horse needs blistering do not 
hesitate, but blister him at once and take care of him. Give 

* That which increases the flow of urine. 



ACTUAL CAUTERY. 



109 



hint a little needed rest, that which is due any faithful servant, 
and you will be amply repaid for your trouble. 

THE RESULT OF BLISTERING. 

"What good does the blister do ?" is a common expression. 
It excites within the already diseased structure a reparative in- 
flammation, or an absorbent inflammation, which hastens the 
formation of reparative material, by which ruptures are 
united, ulcers healed and disease removed. Lameness is often 
removed by blistering, which assists nature in the process of 
repair, hence it will be seen that it ts necessary to apply 
blisters in all cases when organic changes in the parts in- 
volved are even suspected. 




[the horse fired.] 

Showing the portions commonly fired. F, Stifle; G, Hock; H H, Knee; P. 
Spavin; M C, Ring-bone; B L, Tendons and Fetlock; J, Back Tendon; K, Fetlock. 



ACTUAL CAUTERY 



Is much more feared than a blister, and often removes 
pain and lameness where repeated blistering has failed. Prof. 
W. Williams, author of " Prin. and Prac. of Veterinary 
Surgery," says that in bone disease, and in all cases of 
chronic lameness, it is of great benefit, and acts by powerfully 



1 10 THE STIFLE JOINT. 

exciting the healing process in the parts diseased. Thus it 
will be seen that lameness of a bone spavin is removed 
through the inflammation excited by the firing iron in the 
diseased bone, increasing a supply of material for the purpose 
of uniting them together into one immovable mass. For the 
treatment of thickened and enlarged tendons the actual cau- 
tery will give the best satisfaction. 

THE STIFLE JOINT. 

This joint is not free from diseases, some of which are of a 
very grave nature. One of the mo3t common affections is a 

DISTENSION OF THE CAPSULAR LIGAMENT. 

This is recognized by a soft tumor or enlargement in front 
of and a little below the stifle joint resembling a puff, and is 
a cousin to the bog spavin family. This enlargement usually 
but not always causes lameness. However, I am inclined to 
think that when suddenly developed in horses of mature years, 
that it always causes lameness. 

TREATMENT. 

If of recent origin bathe freely four or five times a day 
with the White Lotion (See Index) for a week or ten days, 
then fire with the feathering iron using the design shown on 
Page 106, marked F. Do not make the lines too close to- 
gether, — say three-quarters of an inch apart — and quite deep, 
but not through the skin. You will have to apply the side 
line (See Index) to the well leg. The third day after the fir- 
ing apply the mercurial blister as directed (See Index.) It 
may be necessary to repeat the blister two or three times to 



LUXATION OF THE PATELLA. Ill 

effect a cure. This is a disease that requires rest while 
undergoing treatment, with a cooling laxative diet. 

LUXATION OF THE PATELLA. 

DISLOCATION OF THE STIFLE JOINT. 

Occasionally, but not often, we have complete dislocation 
of the patella (the knee cap of the horse situated on the stifle 
joint — See Skeleton) and when once you have dislocation your 
only chance of a recovery depends upon prompt treatment. 
You will hear a cracking or snapping sound at every step the 
animal takes. 

TREATMENT. 

First have a shoe make to fit the foot with a spur welded 
on at the toe about eight inches long, turned up a little at the 
end iu sleigh runner fashion, punch a hole in the end of the spur 
to receive a cord, nail the shoe to the foot, tied a cord to the spur 
bring the cord up around the neck, draw the foot forward in 
a natural position and make the cord fast. This shoe is very 
serviceable in the treatment of many ails of the foot and 
leg. You will now apply the fly blister as directed on Page 
106. Allow perfect rest for six weeks or longer. 

CRAMPS. 

RHEUMATISM OF THE THIGH. 

Young anima's are often troubled with rheumatic cramps 
of the thigh near tre stifle joint caused by improper food and 
a lack of exercise. Idleness is the horse's worst enemy, and 



112 CRAMPS. 



it is acknowledged that a horse cannot be kept in condition 
without exercise. This disease has often been dubbed 



" STIFLE OUT OF JOINT. 

This is not a good name on account of expressing a con- 
dition which is not present. 

SYMPTOMS. 

Perhaps the first thing noticed will be an inability to 
stand over in the stall. Then you try to back him out of his 
stall, which seems an utter impossibility. This is a common 
expression, "he acts as though his foot was nailed to the 
floor, " and if his stall is large enough he will walk around, 
the diseased leg twisting the foot without lifting it from 
the floor. It is almost impossible for him to back, and when 
moving it is with great difficulty that he brings the leg for- 
ward, and will not move unless compelled to do so. Excite- 
ment will usually cause the animal to throw his weight upon 
the leg in such a way as to remove the cramp when he will 
walk off all right. Give him a good, smart cut with a whip 
flourishing it in a manner to create some excitement. This 
will remove the cramps from nine-tenths of all the cases you 
meet. But I have been calltd to treat a few cases where the 
cramps remained ridged and unyielding for several days. 

TREATMENT. 

First give a physic ball followed by a scalded bran mash, 
withholding the hay for 12 hours. If the bowels do not open 
and the cramps remain alter 24 hours give the turpentine 



THE SPLINT. 113 

drench followed by tablespoonful doses of salicylic acid three 
times a day for three days. 

EXTERNAL TREATMENT. 

Bathe the thigh once a day with the hartshorn liniment 
(See Index) until it produces a mild blister, then omit. Give 
plenty of exercise, and remember that exercise ceases when 
fatigue begins. 

THE SPLINT. 

This is a common cause of lameness and is usually met 
with in young animals. It is caused by a strain, sprain or 
bruise, which loosens the periosteum (skin of the bone) form- 
ing ?, sack or cavity which fills with exudate and is at first 
soft, but gradually hardens uutil it is bone itself. If sud- 
denly developed they ca»se lameness regardless of their loca- 
tion, but if developed slowly they cause no lameness unless 
they are close to and interfere with the action of a joint. 

TREATMENT. 

If suddenly developed, or if large, the skin of the bone is 
to be cut open as follows: Make a t-mall hole in the skin at 
the lower edge of the splint by cutting crossw'se of the leg, 
then take a small, narrow blacled knife and introduce it into 
the hole made in the skin flatways, pu^h it up between the skin 
and bone until the point comes to the upper border of the 
splint, then turn the cutting edjre to tLe bone and withdraw 
it, cutting down on the bone as you bring the knife out with- 
out enlarging the hole in the skin. This rel'eves the tension 
or strain on the skin of the bone. 



114 ATROPHY. 

Now apply the mercurial blister, Page 106, as directed. 
Repeat the blister once a month until you have the desired 
effect. Small or chronic splints are to be treated with the 
blister alone. Splints usually flatten down with age and do no 
harm. Splints are not considered an unsoundness unless they 
are close to a joint or cause lameness. 

ATROPHY (sweeny). 

This is a common ail and is usually seen in young horses. 
Ploughing seems to be the most fruitful cause of shoulder 
sweeny and spavins or other lameness ; the cause of hip 
sweeny. Occasionally you will see the muscles of the arm or 
thigh wasted away, which is due to some injury cutting off the 
supply of nutritneat from the parts. In the first stage there 
is swelling, but it is not often noticed. The first thing usually 
observed is shrinking away of the muscles. May or may not 
be lame, but generally is a little stiff. 

In the very worst cases a sure cure can be affected al- 
though it may recmire a long time before the muscles will at- 
tain their usual size. A loose box stall is chosen in preference 
to the pastura. Keep the animal quiet for a month or six 
weeks adopting the following treatment: Foment the shrunken 
parts with hot water for a while, then rub dry and apply the 
fly blister, Page 106. After the blister has worked and been 
washed off in the usual manner, bathe the affected parts with 
the following : 

Tincture of Camphor 4 ounces 

■ • Opium 4 " 

• • Arnica 4 

Mix and use once a day. If necessary repeat the blister 
once a month, covering the entire shrunken parts until you 
have the desired effect, 



VETERINARY SURGERY. 



CHAPTER III. 



Congestion and Inflammation Defined. 

By the term congestion we understand a condition caused 
by, and dependent upon, an abnormal afflux of blood to a 
part. 

Congestions are of two kinds, active and passive, differing 
from each other in several marked particulars, more especially 
in relation to their causation and methods of treatment — not 
so much on the actual anatomical differences between the two. 
We will endeavor to define the differences existing between 
active and passive congestions in as few words and as simple 
terms as possible, remembering that in a great many instances 
the two may exist in the same organ or part of the body at 
the same time, or during the course of the same disease, at dif- 
ferent times, in varying degrees of intensity. 

An active congestion is one which is produced by either 
the direct or indirect iiritation of a part or organ. A passive 
congestion is one which is not dependent upon an irritation, 
but upon some mechanical obstruction to the return of the 
normal quantity of blood from an organ or part of the body. 

As simple illustrations of the above let us take, first, a 
superficial burn. The irritation produced by the heat is fol- 



116 VETERINARY SURGERY. 

lowed by an increased afflux of blood to the part, and an 
active congestion of the part follows, as shown by increased 
redness and swelling. Second, let us suppose a string tit d, 
not too tightly, around the finger. The flow of blood from the 
part being thus mechanically obstructed, a passive congestion 
results, also ace mpanied by increased reduess and swelling. 
An active congestion may also be produced by forcing an 
abnormal amount of blot d to a part different from the part 
primarily affected, as, for instance, in the case of long expo- 
sure of the surface of the body to cold. Now cold, as every 
one knows, when applied to the exterior of the body, contracts 
the bloid vessels on the surface, and thus drives the entire vol- 
ume of blood to the interior port it ins and organs. This, of 
itstlf constitutes a congestion, and those organs wiil be 
affecti d in the greatest dt gree which possess the least power of 
resistance. 

Passive congestion is also frequently produced in the follow- 
ing manner: The heart's action being weakened from fever 
or other acute illuess, and the natural tonicity of the blood- 
vessels being loosened by the accompanying nervous depres- 
sion, the "vis a tergo" or force from the starting point, i. e., 
the heart, is not sufficient to overcome the force of gravity in 
the more dependent portions of the body, and as a result 
stagnation of the circulation or passive congestion follows. 

These two forms of blood afflux and stasis constitute the 
primary phenomena of congestion. At a longer or shorter 
period of time the secondary symptoms begin to show them- 
selves. From the foregoing remarks it is plain to be seen 
that the only rational way to treat congestion in its primary 
stages is to equalize the circulation, relieve the congested 
parts or organs from the excessive amount of blood contained 
in their structure, and maintain it in this normal condition 



WOUNDS. 117 

till nature has an opportunity to recuperate the over-distended 
parts. In simple congestion there is no diseased condition of 
the tissues themselves present, except in few instances, and in 
these instances the diseased condition must have preceded the 
congestion. 

WOUNDS. 

These are of various kinds and are called incised, punc- 
tured, lacerated, contused, and poisoned. The incised wound 
is where the parts are smoothly divided with a sharp cutting 
instrument, and its length exceeds its depth. Usually, if it 
is lengthwise of the muscle, it is not very serious, but if cross- 
wise, a great gapping wound and considerable bleeding is the 
result. 

TREATMENT.' 

I 

First if on the leg and the bleeding is excessive put a 
good stout piece of cloth or handkerchief around the leg 
loosely above the cut, then pass a stick through the cloth next 
to the leg and give it a few turns (as a binding pole on a 
wagon), Tighten this until the blood stops flowing. You 
will now bathe with hot or cold wa'er removing all foreign 
substances such as dirt and hair. Now loosen the twist until 
the blood starts ; this is to show where the severed blood- 
vessels or arteries are, which you will draw out and tie with a 
linen thread. Should you fail in this, lose no time in sending 
for a qualified veterinary surgeon, as the cord around the leg 
will soon cause extensive swelling and perhaps gangrene. 
After the bleeding is stopped bathe the wound thoroughly 
with the aqua corrosive lotion (See Index). The next step, 



118 WOUNDS. 

according to all authors of today, would be to close the 
opening by 

SEWING UP THE WOUND. 

As I have had no little experience in this particular 
branch of surgery, I cannot too strongly condemn the use of 
of the needle. In the first place the stitches will tear out in 
three or four days ; if not the chances are that you will be 
obliged to cut them out allowing the serum or pus to escape. 
Again when pus is imprisoned it will burrow toward the most 
dependant part causing grave results, often forming sinuses 
(pipes), which are difficult to treat. Again we often have 
blood or matter poisoning follow the closure of wounds by the 
needle, that would never have occurred if the wound had been 
left open. Not long since I had an occasion to assist a pro- 
fessor of a veterinary college in sewing up a lacerated wound. 
While the work was in direct opposition to my understanding 
of surgery I said nothing until the professor and myself drove 
off, when I ventured to remark, "Professor, why did you sew 
up that wound ?" " For five dollars," was his witty retort. 
Then he continued, "If I had not sewed up that wound the 
owner would have got someone else to do it ; the stitches will 
sluff out in a few days, when he will be satisfied to have it 
treated as an open wound." While this may be true to a certain 
extent, it appears to me that this treatment is not only useless, 
but cruelty to our dumb animals, causing not only much pain 
and suffering, but death is often the result of such quackery. 
There may possibly be a case where a few stitches will be of 
service, but the chances are 99 to 100 against you. Having 
thus pretty thoroughly condemned what I consider a barbar- 
ous practice, we will, as the Irishman says " be getting after 
our subject." 



PUNCTURED WOUNDS. 119 

Instead of sewing up the wound you will now return the 
animal to a comfortable stall and give him a scalded bran 
mash, feeding on a cooling laxative diet. Bathe the wound 
once a day with aqua corrosive lotion. Keep the adjoining 
parts clean. Be very careful that vou do not irritate the 
wound while dressing, causing it to bleed, as the irritation is 
apt to start the red unhealthy growth called 

PROUD FLEgH. 

Proud flesh is a red, fungus looking growth and is liable to 
spring up in a wound at any time during the healing process, 
and it is to be treated with astringents and caustics ; poivdered 
borasic acid is one of the best m ; ld remedies that I ever used. 
Quinine is another good remedy. These are to be sprinkled 
over the wound quite freely. When a stronger remedy is re- 
quired take nitric acid and aply it with a feather. This 
remedy must be used with much care ; just touch the red, 
firey looking spots, being careful not to get it on the white, 
healthy looking surface, for when applied to healthy flesh it 
is likely to set up the action we are trying to subdue. When 
a wound is healing there will be a light colored line around 
its outer edge. This line should never be irritated in any 
way. Alter the nitric acid has been touched to the sore for 
10 or 15 minutes you are to apply a little sweet oil with a 
feather. Use the acid once a day until you have the desired 
effect. 

PUNCTURED WOUNDS 

Are made either by a sharp or blunt pointed object, and 
and the depth is greater than the length. These wounds are 
usually to be looked upon as of a very grave character. The 



120 CONTUSED WOUNDS. 

flesh being pierced to a considerable depth the pus which forms 
cannot escape freely. This imprisoned pus gives rise to 
febrile disturbance, blood and matter poisoning, fistulous 
openings, etc. 

TREATMENT. 

The first thing to be done is to enlarge the opening suffi 
cient to admit your finger or hand to its bottom with which 
you are to remove all foreign substances, wood, dirt, hair and 
bruised flesh, then wash out the wound and dress with the 
aqua corrosive lotion or white lotion. Should the wound be a 
deep one you will now take a lump of cotton batting, tie a 
string around it arid introduce it into the wound to its b .ttom 
changing it once a day. The batting absorbs the pus and at 
the same time keeps the wound open until it heals from the 
bottom. Internally. — You are to give the turpentine drench 
at once, repeating the oil as often as may be necessary to keep 
the bowels loose. Should there be much constitutional dis- 
turbance and fever, give a few doses (15 drops) of ac nite. 

A CONTUSED WOUND 

Is a bruise without the skin being cut or torn. This is 
often seen in the man — "a black eye." There may be a rup- 
ture of a blood vessel; ec> h) mosis is the result. This may run 
to suppuration, or it may be taken up by absorption. Speedy 
cuts, collar boils and bruised knees are included in this class of 
wounds. They sometimes assume a" considerable size and 
are soft and fluctuating. 

COLLAR BOIL. 

The contents are to be removed by cutting an opening 
two or three inches long, make your cut with the hair, and it 



BRUISED KNEES AND SPEEDY CUTS. 121 

is usually a half inch through the flesh to the serum, which is 
a red, watery looking fluid. After you have made the open- 
ing introduce your fingers and remove all the bruised tissue 
that you can, then wash it out with 

Zinc Sulphate 8 drams 

Sugar of Lead 4 " 

Carbolic Acid 1 " 

Water 1 quart 

Mix and wash the wound with a syringe once a day ; 
you will also clip the hair ofl of the enlargement and apjDiy 
the fly blister (See Index). You must not let the external 
opening close until the internal parts have healed or grown 
up. It can be kept open by inserting two fingers once or 
twice a day into the opening. Collar boils are sometimes very 
troublesome to treat. The aqua corrosive lotion is also a good 
remedy, and much benefit will be derived from the blister, 
which should never be omitted. 

BRUISED KNEES AND SPEEDY CUTS. 

These are to be treated alike. Give four ounces of sulphate 
of magnesia once a day for a week or until the bowels are 
quite loose. Bandage the affected leg and keep it wet for 48 
hours with the following : 

Saltpetre 4 ounces 

Sal Ammoniac 4 " 

Common Salt 2 pouuds 

Water ' . 2 gallons 

Mix and keep the leg wet for 48 hours, then remove the 
bandages, rub dry and apply the mercurial blister (See Index) 
and repeat this once in three weeks until the enlargement is 
removed. Should the swelling remain soft with a tendency to 



123 POISONED WOUNDS. 

point you must open it up with a free incision and dress with 
the wh ite lotion, aqua corrosive or carbolized water. Repeat 
the blister once every three or four weeks until you have the 
desired effect. 

POISONED WOUNDS. 

SHAKE BITE. 

"Whenever an animal is bitten by a snake, as it sometimes 
happens, the swelling will be great and appear suddenly. 
You cannot always tell to a certainty that the swelling is 
caused by a snake bite, but if the animal has been running 
where there are poisonous snakes and the swelling is suddenly 
developed in the absence of other symptoms, I should treat for 
snake bite. 

TREATMENT. 

First give the turpentine drench, then take ot 

Permanganate of Potash 20 grains 

Water 2 ounces 

Mix and inject into the swollen parts with the Hypodermic 
Syringe, Page 42. Introduce the syringe needle into the 
swelling an inch or two injecting the contents of the syringe 
in several places, Then bathe freely with aqua ammonia and 
spirits of turpentine, equal parts. This treatment is magic, 
often effecting a complete cure in 24 hours. 

BARBED WIRE CUTS. 

In this particular branch of surgery I have had much 
experience with good results, and the following is the mode of 



SCABS FORMING ON WOUNDS. 123 

procedure: Secure the animal with the side line or foot strap 
as the case may necessitate, apply the tivist to the nose, then 
take the dressing shears and snip off all the loose threads of 
tendenous or other substance, take up and tie any bloodvessels 
or arteries that may seem necessary, then bathe with aqua cor- 
rosive lotion. If there are any flaps or loose skin cut them off" 
also. After bathing with the lotion you are to sprinkle pow- 
dered iodiform all over the wound. Now leave it untouched 
for 48 hours then bathe with the corrosive lotion every other 
day and the white lotion every other day alternately. Do not 
sew up the wound nor allow anyone to do it for you, as this 
will pen up the bruised tissues, when it will be liable to ter- 
minate in blood poisoning matter poisoning or gangrene. 
Leave the wound open, and if there are any pockets to hold 
pus, cut them open to their bottom. 

INTERNAL TREATMENT. 

Give a scalded bran mash once a day containing four 
ounces of epsom salts, and feed on a laxative diet. If the 
wound be a bad one you had best give the following : 

Sulphateof Quinine 3 drams 

Nitrate of Potash 8 ounces 

Mix. Give one tablcspo jnful three limes a day ; allow 
plenty of water. Wounds that look frightful will heal up in 
a short time without a scar if this mode of treatment is fol- 
lowed. Powdered borasic acid is a splendid dressing for this 
class of wounds, and is nicely applied with the insect powder 
bellows. 

SCABS FORMING ON WOUNDS. 

This is the proper way for wounds to heal, and when a 
scab forms do not disturb it on an opened wound (one that its 



124 POCKETS IN WOUNDS. 

length is greater than its depth). Keep the surrounding parts 
clean, but leave the scabs alone ; they protect the sore from 
the air, and nature will throw them off when she gets done 
with them. It might be well to spray or sprinkle the wound 
with one of the lotions. 

POCKETS IN WOUNDS. 

Sometimes the fresh wound has a pocket ; again the pus 
or matter burrows, forming pockets. In all such cases you 
are either to make an independent opening from top to bottom 
or make a dependent one at the bottom, through which you 
had better pass a stout piece of tape, forming a seaton (some- 
times called a rowell). This keeps the hole open so that the 
pus can escape. A free discharge of pus or matter is essential 
to a speedy recovery in all wounds. 

OPEN PAROTID DUCT. 

SALIVA FLOWING FROM A WOUND. 

The steno duct winds round the lower jaw bone in com- 
pany with the artery and vein, and enters the mouth between 
the second and third upper molar teeth. Where it crosses the 
jaw it is only covered by the skin, hence it is liable to be 
opened by a kick or blow, although I never saw one opened 
except by a bungling horse doctor. But from whatever cause 
it may be opened the saliva runs from the wound instead of 
flowing into the mouth. When the animal is not eating the 
discharge is very slight, but while eating, especially if the fooa 
is very dry, the discharge is abundant, for this gland secretes 
in direct ratio with the dryness of the food. 

TREATMENT. 

In recent cases close up the wound, but if of long stand- 
ing you will have to re-establish the opening into the mouth. 



THE BOG SPAVIN. 125 

This is an important part of the treatment and is done by 
introducing a seaton from the opening of tjie duct into the 
mouth and allowing it to remain from four to seven days when 
it is to be removed and the external wound closed up with a 
small clamp, pass two small horse nails through the lips of the 
wound pinning them together and apply the clamp above 
them. Tighten it a little each day until it sloughs off which 
will take from seven to fourteen days. After the clamp has 
been adjusted you are to give a little dry food to excite the 
secretion of the gland in order to keep the opening into the 
mouth patent. Great care must be exercised to keep the 
external wound closed until it heals up. If the treatment by 
seaton should prove unsuccessful then the gland will have to 
be destroyed by injecting the following : 

Nitrate of Silver % dram 

Nitric Acid 1 

Water 1 ounce 

A strong syringe will be necessary to force this into the vari- 
ous ramifications of the gland. This arrests the discharge by 
exciting an adhesive inflammation of the gland destroying its 
functions forming a solid indurated mass, which is removed by 
absorption. In no case ai*e caustics or actual cautery to be 
applied. In recent cases close the wound with stitches and 
colodion, forcing the animal to abstain from eating any dry 
food for three or four days, giving gruel and sloppy food. A 
good smart blister will hasten the closure if it seems to be 
healing too slowly. This is a piece of surgery that should be 
intrusted to a qualified surgeon only. 

THE BOG SPAVIN. 

A bog spavin is a puffy tumor situated on the inside of 
the hock joint near or a little above and in front of the seat of 



126 LITHOTOMY. 

the bone spavin, and has always been considered more serious 
to treat than a bone spavin. However, I have invented a 
combined bog spavin and thorough pin truss, which has proved 
very effectual in the treatment of this heretofor unsurmount- 
able ail. This truss is so constructed that any novice can 
apply it, and it will retain its position without injury or in- 
convenience. The animal can lie down in the stable or be 
turned out to pasture while wearing it. This truss has a medi- 
cated pad that covers the bog spavin, and is so arranged that 
it will not chafe the leg. It is adjustable in size, will fit a 
yearling colt or a horse of mature years. Full particulars 
sent on application. Price, $6.00. 

LITHOTOMY. 

DIFFICULT URINE, BLOODY URINE, ETC. . 

Lithotomy is an operation performed for the removal of 
gravel or other substances from the bladder and is usually 
followed by favorable results if properly performed. The 
presence of foreign substances in the bladder is indicated by 
ineffectual attempts to urinate and when the urine does come 
it may be mixed with blood. Each attack is more aggravated, 
and if the cause is not removed death follows, which is usually 
attributed to colic. 

RUMENOTOMY. 

Occasionally we find a case of chronic impaction of the 
rumen which resists all medicinal treatment, and then we have 
to perform rumenotomy, which means that we are obliged to' 
cut open the rumen (stomach) and remove its contents Avith 
our hand and we are liable to find a hair ball made from the 
hair taken while licking each other ; we also find nails, pieces 
of wire, large 'pieces of cloth ; in fact we are liable to find 



RUMENOTJOMY. 127 

almost anything that has disappeared from the premises in the 
bovine stomach. Mr. Chauncey King, of Benton Harbor, 
Mich, at one time found a pocketbook containing $17 in the 
stomach of a veal calf. When it becomes necessary to open 
the stomach you will first clip, shear or shave the hair closely 
from the surface to be operated upon, then tie the cow with 
her right side to the wall, with three men to keep her quiet. 
Now plunge a sharp pointed knife (a small butcher knife will 
do) down into the stomach midway between the last rib and 
and the point of the hip about four inches from the short ribs 
that cross the back — not lour inches from the center of the 
back, but four inches from the ends of the short ribs — cut 
downwards until the hole is large enough to allow a free pas- 
sage of the hand, then take a spaying needle (See Engraving) 
and sew the walls of the stomach to the outside flesh and skin; 
this is to prevent anything from falling into the abdominal 
cavity while cleaning the stomach. You will now remove all 
the contents of the stomach with your hand after which you 
are to oil the stomach with a quart of raw oil, wash the wound 
perfectly clean with warm water, cut out the stitches and sew 
up the stomach, first using carbolized cat gut ; sew over and 
over taking the stitches from three-eighths to one-half 
inch apart, push the ends of the strings down into the 
stomach when done. Now sew up the outside opening, flesh 
and skin, with a strong, waxed linen string, take the stitches 
deep so that they will not tear out, and dress with white 
lotion (See Index). Now prepare the following : 

Fluid Extract of Nuxvomica 2 ounces 

Water y 2 pint 

Mix. Give one tablespoonful three times a day in feed 

or on the tongue. This operation is usually attended with 

favorable results when properly performed. 



12S TRACHAEOTOMY. 

TRACHEAOTOMY. 

This operation is often performed for the immediate relief 
of horses suffering from acute diseases of the throat such as 
influenza, strangles and puprura hemorrhagica. I have also 
operated upon broken wind horses, •' whistlers," with good 
results. The modus operandi : Put a twist on the nose and 
have an assistant elevate the head, now make a cut through 
the skin to the trachea (windpipe) two and one-half inches 
long, about midway of the under part of the neck at a point 
where you can feel the windpipe with nothing but the skin cov- 
ering it, next cut a round hole in the cartilage by taking out a 
part of one of the rings, and introduce the trachae tube. If you 




[THE TRACHAEOTOMY TUBE.] 

have no tube take two fishhooks, file off the barb, then tie a 
piece of rubber cord to one hook and hook it into the opening, 
pass the cord around the neck,attach the other hook to the wound 
and draw the cord sufficiently tight to retain the hooks in 
place; this holds the wound open admitting the air. You 
will now apply the mercurial blister to the throat. After two 
days wash the blister off and apply a good warm poultice'; 



EIGHT-TAIL BANDAGE. 129 

using the eight-tail bandage (See Index) for a few days, giving 
iodide of potash for a week, and such other treatment as is 
generally prescribed for throat troubles. As soon • as the 
horse breathes easily through the nose, which is ascertained 
by placing the hand over the opening you will remove the 
tube or hooks and treat as a common wound. I have operated 
on a number of horses and have never seen any bad results 
followiDg this operation. 

EIGHT-TAIL BANDAGE. 

In poulticing the throat you will always have to use the 
eight-tail bandage, which is made as follows: Take of good, stout 
cotton cloth enough to make a sack or pocket 12 inches wide 
and 17 inches long and sew three or four strings on each side 
of this pocket about two feet long, one-half in the center of the 
upper end is left open to receive the poultice, and hops steeped 
in vinegar, smartweed, wormwood and the oil cake meal poul- 
tices are to be used in warm weather, and fleece wool or cotton 
batting heated in the oven and sprinkled with turpentine are 
to be used in cold, freezing weather: When the poultice is 
ready you will apply it to the throat, tying the two upper 
strings over the neck, the two lower over the nose the remain- 
ing lower right and upper left cross between the ears, then 
the lower left and upper right cross between the ears. Now 
you will put a five ring halter on the animal to assist in 
keeping the poultice in place, and do not forget that warmth 
and moisture are the essential part of a poultice, without 
which there is no poultice. 

ROARING AND WHISTLING. 

This is considered to be an incurable disease, although 
some cases may recover. The symptoms are a loud whistling 



130 THE ENLARGED THYROID GLAND. 

sound made whenever the animal is exerted either by fast 
driving or pulling a load. 

TREATMENT. 

You might try three or four applications of the mercurial 
blister on the throat extending well up to the ears and down 
between the jaws including considerable surface. Should you 
conclude to try the blister you had better give at the same 
time the following: 

Iodide of Potash 4 ounces 

Crystal Iodine 4 drams 

Water 1 pint 

Mix and give one tablespoonful three times a day in the 
feed. Should this fail your only chance of making the ani- 
mal useful is by the operation called tracheaotomy. I have on 
several occasions performed this operation (using the self- 
retaining tube) upon animals that were useless before the 
operation, and today they are doing farm work with apparent 
ease. The tube is removed once a day, washed and immedi- 
ately returned. 




THE ENLARGED THYROID GLAND. 

The thyroid glands are duckless glands, and when 



THE ENLARGED THYROID GLAND, 131 

enlarged are called bronchocele. They vary in size from a hick- 
ory nut to a large goose egg, and seldom interfere with the 
usefulness of the animal. 

TREATMENT. 

Lay the animal down and secure him, then make a cut 
lengthways of the neck long enough to allow the gland to 
escape, then with your thumb and fingers separate the gland 
from the surrounding tissue until you come to the bloodvessels 
which forms the attachments. These you are to tie with a 
silk cord, tie them twice about one inch apart and cut between 
the cords ; be sure and tie the cord tight enough to prevent 
its slipping off; tie each bloodvessel separately. When 
you have the gland removed wash out the wound 
with hot water, sprinkle it over with iodiform, take a 
soft piece of cotton batting, sift a little iodiform over it and 
put it into the wound, and take two or three stitches in the 
skin drawing the wound together sufficient to retain the cotton. 
Now return the animal to the stable and give a turpentine 
drench (See Index) and a scalded bran mash. Twent) 7 -four 
hours later cut the stitches and remove them, leaving the cot- 
ton to fall out of its own accord. The third day after the 
operation if the cotton has not fallen out you are to remove it 
carefully and inject a little aqua corrosive (See Index) once a 
day until well. I have never seen any bad results follow this 
operation. Caution. — Never remove but one gland at a time. 
Should a horse have two enlarged glands remove one and 
wait until he h?.s completely recovered before removing the 
other. 

MEDICINAL TREATMENT. 

Small glands may be removed by clipping the hair oft of 



132 CAPPED HOCK. 

the enlargement and apply the following : 

Saturated Solution of Iodine 2 ounces 

Oil of Origanum 2 " 

Glycerine 2 " 

Mix, shake and apply morning and evening for three 
days, then wait four days and repeat. You will now wait a 
month or six weeks and should there be any enlargement 
remaining repeat as before. Give internally one or two pre- 
scriptions' of the alterative tonic. (See Index). 

CAPPED HOCK. 

This is an enlargement on the upper and back part of 
the hock joint caused sometimes by a strain, but more often 
by a bruise, knock, or other injury such as striking the hock 
against the stall or other object. 

TREATMENT. 

If from any known cause remove the cause for it is use- 
less to attempt a cure without first removing the cause. Then 
apply the mercurial blister, following the directions minutely, 
until you have made four or five applications. (See Index). 
If of recent origin you might try the white lotion for a week 
or ten days before applying a blister. This will often effect a 
cure in cases of recent standing. 

CAPPED ELBOW, OR SHOE BOIL. 

These are usually the result of shoes although some large, 
heavy horses have them from lying on their bare feet. I have 
held postmortem on a few young horses that died from hypertro- 
phy (enlargement) of the kidney, that had capped elbow, caused 



STRING HALT. 133 

from the animal laying partially and then falling down on the 
foot. It may come from other causes. 

SYMPTOMS. 

It is easily detected and is an enlargement of the elbow, 
which is located just in front of the buckel on the belly-band. 
(See Skeleton for elbow). 

TREATMENT. 

First remove the cause. Then in the first stages bathe 
with hot water for several hours each day for two or three 
days, then apply the mercurial blister, following the directions. 
(See Index). Sometimes these enlargements are of a fibrous 
growth in which case they will have to be dissected out and as 
there is likely to be considerable bleeding I would advise you 
to employ a qualified veterinary surgeon. Again, serum or 
pus may form in which case you are to cut it open and wash 
it out with warm water and inject one or two tablespoonfuls of 
aqua corrosive or ivhite lotion. (See Index). 

STRING HALT. 

This disease is the opposite to paralysis. Most writers 
say that it is due to some nervous affection or nerve lesioning, 
but just what part they cannot teli. Some years ago I 
noticed an article in " Fleming's Work on Operative Surg- 
ery," recommending the division of the peroneo-prephalangeal 
tendon for the cure of string-halt. About this time a Mr. 
Price, of Findlay, Ohio, had a fine four-year old mare with a 
string-halt. I told him what I had read, but he was a little 
timid about having her operated upon, so I gave him a blister 



134 FRACTURES— " BROKEN BONES." 

to be applied a little above the hock on the outside of the leg 
telling him that he should also apply a blister over the course 
of this tendon below the hock. About six weeks later Mr. P. 
turned the mare into the barnyard for the purpose of ascer- 
taining whether she was any better. It was a cold, frosty 
morning and the mare appeared a great deal worse but en- 
joyed her freedom, running and capering about the yard 
until she came in contact with a harrow that was turned up 
against the fence, striking her affected leg against a tooth in 
such a way as to cut this tendon off near the place recom- 
mended by Prof. Fleming. The mare was returned to the 
stable that the wound might be dressed. While doing this, 
however, it was noticed that the jerky action of the hock had 
ceased. The next morning the case was reported to me. I 
gave a bottle of white lotion for a dressing, the wound soon 
healed and the animal was to all appearances perfectly sound. 
Since then I have operated upon six cases, four of which 
recovered. The operation can do no harm if it does no good, 
and I think it advisable to try it in all confirmed cases. See 
Fleming's Operative Surgery, page 236. 

In examining a horse for soundness you should back him 
out of the stall, watching him carefully. Then turn him 
around quickly and he will be apt to show signs if affected. 

FRACTURES—" BROKEN BONES." 

They are quite common and must be treated in accordance 
with their location. There are several kinds of fractures. 
They are called simple, compound, commuted and compli- 
cated. A simple fracture is one in which the bone is broken 
and the muscles and skin are not much affected. A compound 
fracture is one in which the bones have punctured the flesh or 



FRACTURES— '• BROKEN LEGS." 135 

skin, and is hard to treat. A commuted fracture is one in 
which the bone is broken and shattered, in -which case the 
animal had better be destroyed. A complicated fracture is 
one in which an important bloodvessel, an artery or the 
articulating surface of a joint is injured. Death usually fol- 
lows as a result of this kind of fracture. 

I shall only speak of those fractures of which I think the 
the chances are good for a recovery if properly cared for. 

BROKEN LEGS. 

Usually the best thing to do is to destroy the animal, but 
if you decide on treatment then the first thing to be done is to 
place the animal in a sling (See Page 56) and a narrow stall 
is preferable so that the horse cannot turn around, and he 
should be tied moderately short. 

THE PLASTER OF PARIS BANDAGE. 

Take a piece of sheeting three yards long and tear it in 
strips four inches wide, remove the ravelings and spread them 
at full length on a board. Now you will take some plaster of 
paris and sprinkle it over the bandage nice and evenly until 
they are completely covered, then you will roll them up sepa- 
rately until you have made four or five roils. Lay them to 
one side and roll up one three inches wide without any plaster 
on it (a dry bandage) — lay this to one side. Now take two 
or three sheets of cotton wadding, cut in strips three inches 
wide and roll it up and you are ready. Stand the plaster of 
paris bandages on end in a half pail of water, moisten the 
hair on the fractured leg, smoothing it down over the fracture 
which we will supose is four inches above the fetlock joint, 
now take the wadding bandages and rap them around the leg 



136 FRACTLRES— " BROKEN BONES-." 

from the knee down over the fetlock joint. Apply two layers 
of the wadding tight and smooth, over this you are to rap the 
dry bandage tight and perfectly smooth, now take one of the 
plaster bandages and rap it over the dry bandage ; rap it 
tightly, but not quite as high nor quite as low as the dry ones, 
as it will not do to allow the plaster bandage to come in con- 
tact with the flesh for when dry it would chafe, for this reason 
the wadding and dry bandage are used. After you have 
applied one plaster bandage rub in a little dry plaster and 
apply the second bandage and rub it over with dry plaster. 
Continue in this manner until you have applied from three to 
five bandages, as the case may require. Be careful to get the 
leg straight and keep it so until the plaster drys. After the 
plaster is dry you must either lower the floor under the 
broken leg, raise the floor under the well legs, or saw out a 
piece of two-inch plank and fasten it to the well foot. This 
relieves the tension on the muscles and tendons. Keep the 
sling just nicely tight when the animal stands up straight, and 
when he gets tired he will sag back into it and rest. 

• Keep him in the sling six or eight weeks with a front leg, 
and eight or ten weeks with a hind leg. Loosen the sling 
occasionally for the purpose of currying and brushing him, 
which is essential to his health and comfort. 

The foregoing may be changed and diversified to suit 
each particular case, bearing in mind the main points, viz: 
First, a good, easy fitting sling. Second, secure the animal 
so that he cannot turn around in the stall. Third, the band- 
ages must be evenly and smoothly applied. Fourth, the 
plaster bandages must not come in contact with the flesh. 
Fifth, there must be at least two inches raise for extension of 
the broken leg. Do not wet the leg with anything whatever 
after the plaster bandage has been applied. 



POLL EVIL. 137 

The food must be of a loosening nature and you may- 
have to give an occasional dose of raw oil (one-half pint) to 
regulate the bowels. Should there be much constitutional 
disturbance give fluid extract of belladonna, one-half dram, 
once or twice a day and a tablespoonful of nitrate of potash 
once or twice a day. Should the appetite fail give quinine or 
iron sulphate. 

POLL EVIL. 

This disease is dying a natural death and the eradication 
of the old, low, log stables seems to have been its death knell. 
And I might say with the same propriety, that fistulous 
withers is not so common on account of our barnyards being 
more free from sticks, stumps and stones, aud I will add 
another axiom : " Eemove the cause and the symptoms will 
remove themselves. It is useless to enter into a lengthy 
description of these ails. Suffice it to say that a poll evil is a 
sore situated on the neck just back of the ears and fistulous 
withers is a deep-seated sore located about the neck and 
shoulders and there is but one way to treat them and that is 
by cutting them open and removing all of the dark unhealthy 
flesh, the part called pipes. These may extend to the bone and 
even be grown fast to the bone, in which case they must be 
carefully scraped loose then dress with the aqua corrosive 
lotion. There is no need of using strong remedies after you 
have removed the pipes with knife. Do not be afraid of 
bleeding, but cut a long gash with the hair and muscles six or 
eight inches long. I have opened them with a cut 14 inches 
long, the animals making good recovery, and I believe that if 
you cut open this class of sores and keep them open, you can 
effect a complete cure with the two lotions, corrosive and white, 



138 



WARTS. 



by using them alternately three days each for a few weeks or 
until the wound is healed from the bottom out. No wound 
should be allowed to close on the outside until it is closed 
inside. This is an important part in the treatment of wounds 
of all kinds and classes. For this purpose you are to intro- 
duce your fingers or hand once a day. Should you fail to 
keep them open this way then take a knife and enlarge the 
opening and keep it open at all hazards until it has filled 
with healthy flesh internally. 

WARTS. 




These are abnormal growths affecting the true skin, and 
are common to all domestic animals and man. They appear 
upon all parts of the body, legs, head, ears, eyes and mouth, 
and the knife seems to be the only specific for their removal. 



TREATMENT. 




[the bulb firing iron.] 

First put the bulb iron in heating, then secure the animal 
either recumbent or standing, as the case may require ; have 
a pail of water, sponge, needle and thread, shears and the 
knife at hand — you might clip the hair off around the wart 
and wash it before securing him. After he is secured make 



KNLCKLING— COCK ANKLE. 139 

one cut about one quarter inch from the wart entirely around 
it just deep enough to divide the skin, lay the knife to one 
side and separate the wart from the body with your firjgers ; 
if you find any blood vessels tie them and cut them off. 
When you have the wart removed take the red hot iron and 
sear over the wound, not so much to stop the bleeding as to 
destroy the germs should there be any left. After treatment. — 
Bathe once a day with aqua corrosive lotion. Do not apply a 
bandage or covering of any kind as it will irritate and is a 
sufficient cause to produce in a healthy wound, the very 
thing we are trying to overcome. In fact it is very seldom 
that an open wound of any kind needs any protection from 
the air either winter or summer. My experience has led me 
to conclude that bandages, coverings, premature closures, and 
the closure of wounds with the needle have been the means 
not only of blemishing, but the destruction of many an animal 
that otherwise would have recovered. 

KNUCKLING— COCK ANKLE. 

This can hardly be called a disease as it rarely affects 
the usefulness of the animal. There may be a jerky action of 
the fetlock at nearly every step and a prominence in front of 
the fetlock without any structural change of the true joint. 
Knuckling is more often seen in the hind leg than the front 
ones. Hard driving without proper care seems to be the 
most exciting cause. 

TREATMENT. 

Feed on a loosening, laxative diet, the animal being 
allowed a loose box stall during treatment. Bandage the 
ankle and keep it wet for two or three days, then blister with 



140 CHOKE IN THE HORSE. 

the mercurial blister, following the directions minutely (See 
Index), covering the ankle all over extending a little above 
and below the joint. Occasionally the inflammation causes 
contraction and the animal is compelled to walk on the fet- 
lock joint instead of the foot. This can be relieved by 
tenotomy, a division of the tendons between the hock or knee 
and fetlock joint, and is usually followed by favorable results 
if properly performed. 

CHOKE IN THE HORSE. 

Some horses are hoggish eaters, and especially when fed 
in a high manger are apt to get choked on oats. This may 
be prevented either by placing the feed box on the floor, 
which is perhaps the best way, or by putting a few round 
stones the size of a goose egg in the feed box. Should a horse 
get choked you are to pour a little raw oil down the throat, 
carefully rubbing the choked place with your hand. Jumping 
the horse quickly over some object 18 to 24 inches high will 
often remove a choke. Never try to force a stick or piece of 
wood of any kind down a horse's throat. 

CHOKE IN THE COW. 

Cattle are quite frequently choked on apples, potatoes, 
turnips, etc. 

First procedure. — With your hand rub and manipulate 
the throat working the object up as near the mouth as pos- 
sible, and have an assistant hold it there. Now put a clevis or 
some object in the mouth to hold it open and run your hand 
down into the mouth and get the choke. Should you fail in 
this adopt the 

Second procedure. — Take apiece of smooth wire 10 feet 



CHOKE IN THE COW. 141 

long about the size of a pail bail, double it in the center form- 
ing a loop, leave the loop a little rounded and about four 
inches wide ; oil this and introduce it into the mouth. Have 
the choke held by an assistant ; now carefully work the wire 
past the choke when it will come between the two wires, 
which you can feel with your hand, now carefully withdraw 
the wire, object and all. This operation has always been suc- 
cessful with me. 

Do not try to force a choke down into the stomach until 
the last resort, and then use the doubled wire a ball attached. 
The ball should be one and a half inches in diameter, per- 
fectly smooth and a little flat or hollow on the side that goes 
goes down against the choke. A piece of inch or inch and a 
quarter rubber hose will answer very well for forcing a choke 
down into the stomach, but a bar, pitchfork, broom-handle, or 
whip stock will kill more than they will cure. 




ANIMAL CASTRATION, 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE EFFECT OF CASTRATION. 



This particular piece of surgery is of all others the one 
most often performed upon the domesticated animal, and is 
followed by certain peculiar efiects. The most striking change 
produced by the removal of the testicles is manifest in the 
character and disposition of the animal, which becomes at 
once, in a double sense, an altered being submissive and docile 
willing to become the obedient and useful servant of man. 
Thus we find the vicious stallion, the unmanagable bull, the 
dangerous boar, the hysteric mare and kicking cow trans- 
formed into the useful gelding, the gentle ox, the fattened 
barrow, the quiet, submissive mare and the productive cow, as 
the result of this operation. The male animal assumes the 



THE AGE TO CASTRATE. 143 

character and form of the female not only in appearance but 
in voice, which loses its resonant sound of the stallion. A 
like change take3 place in all other male animals and man to 
acquire a resemblance to the female as an effect of castration. 
The altered bull has a weak, feminine voice, his horns are 
longer and more curved; he has exchanged his wild and 
threatening aspect for a mild and comely visage. Again the 
castrated animal ceases to exist as one of a specie3, but main- 
tains an individual life in which the food he absorbs instead 
of being in part appropriated to the office of reproduction of 
his kind, is all devoted to his own individuality. When the 
food is in excess of the amount required for the support of the 
aDimal it follows that the surplus of the nutritive material 
becomes stored in the connective tissue and muscular struct- 
ure, the flesh assuming a more nutritious and juicy quality 
than that of the uncastrated animal. At the same time it 
loses the peculiar odor and testicular taint of the entire 
animal. 

THE AGE TO CASTRATE. 

The question is frequently asked, "Of what age should an 
animal be castrated?" We reply, at any age, though the 
younger the animal is castrated the better, since a young ani- 
mal is not as liable to unfavorable complications following 
this operation as an old one. With ordinary care an unfavor- 
able result in a sucking animal is very rare, indeed almost 
unheard of. This will apply to all male animals. The age 
at which a colt should be castrated depends much upon the 
object in view. If you are breeding for early profit geld at 
age. of three months, for three reasons. First. — Colts gelded 
at this age are cut up in the throat-latch nicer and square out 
in the hips much wider, giving them more the appearance of 



144 THE AGE TO CASTRATE. 

the mare. Second. — They will be ready for market a year 
sooner. Third. — They heal readily and the chances for 
recovery are all in your favor. 

However, a colt gelded at from two to three years of age 
is tougher and more rugged, though a little " staggy " about 
the neck and a little " peaked " in the hips, and therefore is 
less valuable in market. All things considered, the best age 
to castrate a colt is when he is about one and a half years old. 

SEASON. 

Most, if not all writers on this subject recommend that 
castrating be performed either during the spring or fall 
months. I am, however obliged to differ, with them, giving 
the preference to the months of June, July, August and Sep- 
tember since a large experience in this class of work at vari- 
ous periods of the year has proven to me conclusively that 
horses castrated during these months do better and escape 
many of the otherwise unpleasant after effects such as swelling 
of the sheath, colic, etc. This I attribute, first, to their gen- 
eral health being better after a run at grass ; second, the 
ground is warm and dry and they do not take cold while 
lying down ; third, the flies keep them in constant motion, 
which not only prevents swelling by keeping the absorbents 
at work, but also keeps up a free discharge from the wound — 
a very essential thing in an operation of this kind. Horses 
castrated in hot weather recover in from two to three weeks, 
while those castrated in the early spring months take from 
six weeks to six months to get well ; some never recover. 

PREPARATION. 

When a horse is to be castrated the following preparation 
is essentially necessary, regardless of age : From 10 to 14 



CRYPTORCHIDE (RIDGLING) CASTRATION. 145 

days before castrating take a pail of warm soap suds and 
thoroughly wash out the sheath, examining the end of the penis 
carefully for a " bean " which is sometimes imprisoned there, 
and which can be detected by pressing carefully on the organ, 
as it feels hard to the touch. This must always be removed. 
After washing out the sheath take 

Glycerine 1 ounce 

Sweet Oil 1 

Carbolic Acid 15 drops 

Mix well together and anoint the sheath thoroughly, 
applying it well back around the penis. You will now, if a 
matured horse give a laxative ball followed by a scalded bran 
mash ; if a colt omit the ball and give the mash. Then send 
word to your intended operator that you shall expect to have 
your animal castrated in from 10 to 15 days.* 

CKYPTORCHIDE (RIDGLING) CASTRATION. 

This engraving shows the location of the testicle in the 
cryptorchide. These horses are commonly called original 
horses. And for the benefit of those wishing to post them- 
selves I have defined the three common terms used to design- 
ate horses of this class. 

Prof. Liautard, of the New York Veterinary College, 
in his treatise on animal castration has adopted the name 
cry ptorchide, which is more expressive of the abnormal con- 
ditions ; for this reason we have used it. The name Ridgling 

* Note — Do not put off this washing for the operator to do, as 
the washing of itself is liable to cause some irritation and swelling, 
which will subside in a week or ten days if the foregoing instruc- 
tions are minutely followed. The parts, not only the parts oper- 
ated upon, but the whole animal should be in prime condition. If 
the animal has or appears to be bordering on disease, you must put 
him under treatment, deferring the operation for a time. 



146 



CRYPTORCHIDE (RIDGLING) CASTRATION. 



comes from the French word Ridge, meaning halved. Thus 
it will be seen that a ridgling horse is a half castrated horse, 




[THE CRYPTORCHIDE — " RIDGLING."] 

A, Vasdeferens; B, Floating Testicle; C, Epididymis; D, Spermatic Cord. 

regardless of the location of the testicle. " Original/ ' The 
first of its kind.'" Hence it will be seen that the primitive 
meaning of the word original could not possibly be con- 
strued as relating; to a thing which has been remodeled or 
fixed over. Cryptor -chide, "Having a secret testicle." This 
name is the proper one, as it carries with it a meaning. How- 
ever, the name cuts no figure in the operation, and we feel 
that this little work would be quite incomplete without a word 
on this important branch of veterinary surgery — a branch 
which seems to baffle the skill of so many good vets. Yet, it 
is simple and easy when once you know how. During the 
months of July and August, 1889, 1 castrated 53 cryptorchides 
in Michigan and Northern Indiana, with perfect recovery in 
every instance, and I have castrated over 300 cryptorchides 
in the last five years without a death, which is ample proof of 
my ability, and I will go to any part of the United States or 
Canada and teach any qualified surgeon how to operate suc- 
cessfully for $100. and expenses. This is the only secret in 



THROWING KORSES FOR CASTRATION. 147 

surgery that I have withheld from the public in the publica- 
tion of this little work. References furnished on application: 



, e-c*-K— ci_a^e 



'f- 



THROWING HORSES FOR CASTRATING. 

The horse should always be laid down to insure perfect 
safety to the operator and those who assist him. Some recom- 
mend castrating while standing, but it is not the proper way. 
I have seen men who claimed to be experts attempt to cas- 
trate a stallion while standing. The operator would get one 
testicle out, or perhaps only an incision, when the animal 
would become so enraged that he would have to be taken out 
and thrown before they could complete the operation. Again 
the testicles of some colts are retained in the inquinal canal, 
and do not descend into the scrotum until they are two or 
three years old and upwards. These are usually called 

FLANKERS. 

And it is next thing to an impossibility to castrate such 
horses standing. Furthermore, I am sure that no living man 
can castrate an abdominal ridgling while standing. In view 
of these facts, and others too numerous to mention, it appears 
to me to be the most rational way to lay a horse down at 
once, which can be done on a blanket with Conkey's Securing 
Harness and Hobble. However, there are many different 
methods of throwing horses, all of which have more or less 
merit. 



FARMER MILES' METHOD. 




[fig. 34.] 

The accompanying engraviDg are reproduced from 
Prof. Fleming's New Operative Surgery, Pages 36 and 39. 
Fig. 34 represents Farmer Miles' mode of applying ropes for 




[fig. 36.] 

throwing horses. Fig. 36 represents the horse thrown and 
secured. For lack of space we omit the lengthy description, 
mode of applying and .workings of Miles' method. Suffice it 
to quote that "with practice an'animal may be prepared, cast, 
tied up and released again in from 10 to 12 minutes. Five 
active men are sufficient to assist." 



L. L. CONKEY'S METHOD. 




VALLEY CITY ENG -i^^S 
FIG. I. — THE HORSE PREPARED FOR CASTING" 

Figures i, 2, 3 and the rope A represent the Conkey Patent Hobble applied; 
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 show the Conkey Securing Harness applied; A, the 
operator; B, C and D, assistants; F, the Conkey Operating Hood. 

/A 




[FIG. 2. — THE HORSE SECURED AND THE HOBBLES REMOVED.] 

A, right hand; D, left hand; B, right leg; C, left leg of the assistant who 
holds the head. 



150 L. L. CONKEY' METHOD. 

With this harness and hobble 1 can lay (not throw) a 
horse, regardless of size and disposition, on a horse blanket, 
not once in a while, but every time, with only two good assist- 
ants, and more than three are only in the way. 

The following will serve to give an idea of the length 
of time required to prepare and secure an animal. In May, 
'88 I castrated six straight colts and one abdominal ridgling 
in 40 minutes without apparent haste. This work was done 
at Mr. Harm DeLong's, Penn, Cass Co., Mich. Mr. J. Gar- 
wood owned the ridgling, and there were the Bonine brothers 
and at least a half dozen other farmers present. Each animal 
was led from the stable to an adjacent field and returned to 
the stable singly after being operated upon. The following is 
the outgrowth of an assertion made while preparing to cast 
the horse represented in Figures 1 and 2, which explains 
itself: 

Grand Eapids, Mich., Dec. 20, 1889. 
It is with pleasure I acknowledge that Dr. Conkey's 
Hobbles and Harness, for securing a horse in the recumbent 
position, is certainly the best, easiest and quickest I have ever 
seen. Dr. Conkey, with the aid of two assistants, claimed he 
could lay a horse on a horse blanket with his hobbles and did 
so in presence of Mr. A. N. Albee, liveryman ; Mr. Reed, of 
the Valley City Engraving and Printing Co., myself and 
several others. The horse was a large, powerful animal, but 
the task was as easy as though he was but a sucking colt. 

Yours respectfully, 

P. H. O'BRIEN. 

Dr. Win. Rose, V. S., graduate of the Toronto Veterinary 
College favored us with the following, which speaks for itself: 



L. L. CONKEY'S METHOD. 151 

DR. L. L. CONKEY: 

Dear Sir— In answer to your inquiry about 
the Securing Harness and Hobbles bought of you 
will say that I would not be without them for 
many times their cost. An animal can be laid 
down easier, quicker, secured perfectly and safely. 
Besides this it can be done in less space than by 
anyother method I have ever seen. And for the 
benefit of the profession will say that Conkefs 
method is not only admirably adapted to castrating, 
but also to any and all conceivable operations, 
neurotomy, miotomy, pero7ieo-prephalangeal , ten- 
otomy , firing , shoeing, etc. No progressive veter- 
inary surgeon can afford to be without your 
Hood, Harness and Hobbles. 
Yours with respect, 

WILLIAM ROSE, V. S. 
128 East Fulton St., Grand Rapids, Mich. 




[THE CONKEY PATENT.] 

L. L. Conkey's Patent Automatic Chain Buckle, Pat- 
ented Jan. 1889, in the United States and Canada. For 
price of Hobbles, Hood and Securing Harness address 
Leonard L. Conkey, Grand Rapids, Mich. Full instructions 
and illustrai ions sent with every outfit, which are guaranteed 
as represented or money refunded. 



152 ACCIDENTS IN THROWING. 

ACCIDENTS INCIDENT TO THROWING HORSES. 

The accidents liable to occur in throwing horses down 
for operations, and while down are numerous, and may occur, 
the operator having adopted all due and proper precautionary- 
measures. 

I find on page 48 of Prof. Fleming's Operative Surgery 
the following report of accidental fracture of the back. " Of 
my 14 cases 13 occured while the horse was on its side, the 
14th while on its back. My cases occurred with the follow- 
ing number in various kinds of horses. One was a heavy dray- 
horse, two English thoroughbreds, seven half-bred blooded 
stock, and four were of the blooded country stock. Age ap- 
peared to make no difference. The youngest horse, a thor- 
oughbred English stallion was three. The oldest, a coach- 
horse (stallion), was 21 years old. It is understood, says the 
author, that the character of the operation itself has no 
influence whatever on the causation of vertebral fractures; but 
to be exhaustive I will mention that one case occurred in cas- 
tration, one case in operation for fistula, two cases in extrac- 
tion of molar, four cases in neurotomy, four cases in firing, 
two cases in spaying." Fleming." 

In my own practice I have never met with the accident 
of fracture in any form ; neither have I met with an accident 
of any kind except in one instance, in which I threw a large, 
iron grey two-year-old. This animal was as nice a colt as 
I ever roped with the exception of his feet, which were badly 
cracked or split, and I threw him for the purpose of fixing 
them. This I was compelled to do on account of his vicious 
disposition. A few days after one front leg was found some- 
what swollen, and about two weeks later one hip was noticed 
to be shrinking away. The colt had fought incessantly while 



CASTRATION 153 

down, straining himself sufficient to produce the foregoing 
results. Thus it will be seen that accidents are at times 
unavoidable, and no man living dare say that Prof. Fleming 
is a careless operator, or that he was in anyway to blame for 
the accidents reported. Yet I am of the opinion that if he 
and others would adopt the mode of securing horses illustrated 
on Page 149, they would never again hear of a broken back. 
I have cast several thousand horses in the last 10 years for 
different operations, and with the one exception they have all 
gotten up without assistance or any apparent bad result. 
Therefore I ihink I am justified in saying, lay the horse down 
ior castrating, do it carefully secure him firmly and you are 
ready for the knife. 




THE CASTRATING KNIFE. 

Take the knife in your right hand, grasp the point of the 
sheath with your left, the fingers entering the sheath ; take a 
good, firm hold drawing the sheath forward (toward the 
horse's head) and upward from the body as the horse lays on 
his back, holding it firmly. You will make two incisions 
(cuts) about four or five inches long and about one and one- 
half inch from the middle line of the sheath, running the same 
way parallel with the sheath through the scrotum. Make the 
first two cuts through the skin on each side, then cut through 
the fibrous tissue. Now let go the sheath and force the tes- 
ticles (which will have a white covering called the tunica) 
through the opening, holding it firmly between your thumb 
and finger, make a free cut with the knife through this white 



154 CASTRATION. 

covering 'when the testicle will be exposed. Should the tes- 
ticles be large and well developed, as is often the case, it will 
not be necessary to take hold of the sheath, but simply grasp 
the lower testicle between thumb and fingers with a strong 
hold making one sweeping cut with the knife exposing the 
testicle at one or two cuts. Take hold of the testicle with the 
left hand draw it out gently and should the white covering 
form a sack like co?er around the cord, as is often the case, 
you are to introduce the knife carefully by the side of the 
cord and cut open this sack down toward the horse's body as 
far as you can handily and take the ccraseur in your right 




[the ecraseue.J 

hand and pass the chain over the testicle well down to the 
body around both the spematic cord and a part of the "white 
covering," now take up the slack of your chain as quickly as 
possible. Look now and see that there is nothing between 
the chain and cord, the white covering being next to the in- 
strument; now turn the instrument until you feel that the 
chain is very tight or commencing to crush, then stop loDg 
enough to count six, make a half turn, count six, another half 
turn, count six; continue this turning and counting until the 
chain has been drawn into, not through, the loop of the 
instrument, this you can tell by the instrument turning more 
easily ardby the feeling at the end. You will now grasp the tes- 
ticle with the left hand and pull it off, holding the instrum* nt 
well up against the horse with the right hand while you pull. 



CASTRATION. 



155 



You will now remove the other testicle in the same manner. 
If the testicles, are small you may, at jour pleasure, remove 
them both at once ; but you must be very careful and not get 
the scrotum or sheath in the instrument or you will be liable 
to have bleeding following the operation. After removing 
the testicies y<>u will now bathe the wound with cold water, or 
with carbolized < il (See Index). You will now remove 
your ropes as quickly and carefully as possible and let the 
horse up and should there be 

BLEEDING AFTER CASTRATION 

sufficient to cause any uneasiness, pour cold water over the 
hips and loins. Should the bleeding continue after a few 
minutes take a lump of alum about the size of a hen's egg, 
pound it fine, then pour on one pint of boiling water, add 
cold water to cool, then inject with a syringe half or two- 
thirds of this into the rectum. Then saturate a sponge, ball 
of cotton, or old cotton cloth with the alum water and force 
it up into the wound allowing it to remain undisturbed for 
24 to 36 hours, and then be removed very carefully. This 
treatment is successful except in rare instances, when the 
animal will have to be thrown and the artery tied or you may 
apply 




CONKEY'S CASTRATING CLAMP 

which is best made of seasoned bob shumake, sweet alder or 



156 CASTRATION. 

paw-paw on account of its being light and having a pith, 
which is easily removed, forming a cavity to receive the 
caustic medicines which must be used. The clamps are about 
five inches long and from three-quarters to one inch in diam- 
eter, with a groove cut around the end t) receive the string 
used in tying them together. They are split in halves, the 
peth removed and one piece beveled from the notch or groove 
to the end as shown in the engraving. Just before laying the 
horse down you will take fresh Jard, tallow, butter or cos- 
moline and grease the clamp over filling the groove and rub- 
bing it all over the flat surface of the clamp ; this prevents the 
clamp from sticking to the c )rd when removing it, as well as 
holding the 

CLAMP POWDER. 

All clamj s used for castrating must be medicated before 
they are used, and fur this purpose there is nothing better 
than the iollowing : 

Finely Powdered Corrosive Sublimate 1 ounce 

•' Red Percipitate 1 " 

" " Willow Carbon 1 dram 

This powder is to be thoroughly mixed and sprinkled 
pretty freely over the whole flat or inside surface of the clamp 
just before it is applied to the cord. 

CASTRATING WITH THE CLAMP. 

Lay the horse down, make your incisions, and take the 
testicles out the same as for the ecraseur, put the clap on from 
forward back close to the body, clamping in the " white cov- 



THE CARE OF A HORSE AFTER CASTRATION. 1ST 

ering " and all the loose cord, (remove the lower testicle first 
for convenience) close the clamp with the 




CLAMP TONGS 

while tying it, and be sure to tie the clamp well that it may 
not slip off, next you are to cut the testicle off about one- 
fourth of an inch below the clamp rubbing the severed end of the 
cord over with the clamp powder. Now pour some carbolized 
oil (See Index) around the clamp working it down into the 
wound. Now remove your ropes quickly, but carefully and 
let him up. Tie him in a good stall where he cannot lay 
down for an hour or two until he gets quiet, as they are fre- 
quently very restless, stamping and sweating profusely, then 
turn him out into the pasture. The after care will depend 
much upon the various complications which are liable to fol- 
low. But if you have your horses gelded in hot weather they 
will get well without even swelling. 

THE CARE OF A HORSE AFTER CASTRATING. 

Tie the horse in a comfortable stall for a few hours, or 
until be is perfectly quiet, then give him a turpentine 
drench (See Index) followed by a scalded bran mash, then you 
will give one-fourth pound of epsom salt every third day until 
you have given one pound. Feed on a laxative, nutritious 
diet, scalded (not raw) bran, oats, etc. Give him all the 
water he will drink. Should he swell much give him one- 
half pint of raw linseed oil, containing one or two ounces of 



158 THE BULL. 



sweet spirits of nitre once a day until the swelling disappears, 
continuing the other treatment as before, unless the bowels 
should get too loose, in which case you are to discontinue the 
salt until the bowels set and are perfectly natural. 



EXTERNAL TREATMENT. 



Open the wound two or three times a day for a week by 
inserting the hand into the wound the whole length, (not the 
tips of the fingers, but the whole hand), give genile exercise at 
first, then trot a mile or until the swelling is gone and the 
parts are perfectly natural. If the horse is old enough to 
work it is best to work him a little every day ; if not he may be 
tied biside your work team and driven half of each day until 
well. Never allow a horse out in a cold ram for at least three 
weeks after castration. Never go to bed leaving any swelling 
in the privates of a colt, but jog him about until it disappears. 
Exercise will remove swelling. Never allow a man to operate 
who hesitates, gives evasive answers, guesses or thinks he can 
do the work, etc. Remember that a horse is sound that has both 
testicles, regardless of their location, and that the removal of 
one testis makes him unsound and an unlawful horse to sell. 

THE BULL. 

The stanchions that are in common use for stabling cattle 
is about as good a place as you can put a large bull, say one 
year old, to castrate him. Put him in the stanchion, tie a 
cord to the left hind leg below the dew claws, draw the leg 
forward a little and make the rope fast to the horns or 
stanchion, then grasp the bag in your left hand with a firm 
hold, pull down hard enough to stretch the skin, which you 



RIDGLING BULLS. 159 

will cut open the whole length of the testicle on the side (be 
careful not to cut the testicle too much, as it interferes with 
the operation). As the testicle slips out of the white covering 
you are to separate the testicle from the white covering (to 
which you will find it attached at the lower end of the testicle) 
with your thumb and fingers, then carefully draw the ttstis 
down with one hand pushing the covering up into the groin 
with the other. Keep pushirjg and pulling until you have two 
or three feet of cord or even more. It will do no harm to 
pull until the cord breaks off, but if it refuses to break when 
you have pulled it out until it is no larger than a small rye 
straw and perfectly white you may scrape it in two with the 
back of your knife. Remove the other in the same manner. 
Take hold of the lower point of the scrotum (bag) and pull 
it down straight and fill the cavity with common salt and the 
operation is complete. 

YOUNG CALVES 

are to be laid on the side and operated upon in the same 
manner. Do not cut off the end of the bag but slit it open on 
the side and draw the testicles out until they break off, 
straighten the bag and put in a little salt and let him go. 
Should a bull swell in the bag you are to open the wound and 
allow the pus to escape. 

RIDGLING BULLS. 

Occasionally you will come across a bull that has but one 
testicle in the scrotum, and you are at a loss to know where 
the other is. In such cases you are to feel all over the belly. 
I have found them beside the penis near its end, down the 



100 THE BOAR. 

thigh, deep in the flank and other locations, but never inside 
of the abdominal wall ; so if you look carefully you will find 
it somewhere, and wherever you find it make a good, large 
opening that the pus or matter may escape freely and draw it 
out until the cord breaks off. Sprinkle a little common salt 
in the wound after its removal. 

THE BOAR. 

The boar must be laid on the left side held by an assistant 
with his right knee on the neck, the right hind foot in his 
right hand, and the right front foot in his left hand (let him 
squeal). The operator now places his left knee on the hog's 
flank, grasps the lower testicle in his left hand between the 
thumb and forefinger tightly, (be sure that the thumb covers 
the middle line between the testicles ; this prevents you from 
cutting across it, an accident which causes much swelling), 
make a long sweeping cut with the knife two and a half or 
three inches long and pretty low down so that there will be a 
free discharge. As you make the cut the testicle will come 
out in such a way that your thumb and finger will meet be- 
tween the testis and white covering, which is to be torn loose ; 
pull the testis until the cord breaks off a foot or so long. Do 
not cut the cord off, but pull it out, and if you make a good, 
large opening you will have no trouble with them. 

IN HOT W^EATHER 

Take of pine tar and spirits turpentine equal parts and warm 
it together, tie a rag on the end of a stick for a swab and rub 
the mixture onto and into the wound. This will prevent 
maggots from getting in. 



SCROTAL HERNIA IN THE HOG. 161 

RIDGLING BOAR. 

Not often but occasionally you will find a boar with but 
one testicle in the scrotum. Should this be the case you are 
to feel carefully in the groin, between and in front of the hind 
legs. Should you fail to find it in this locality you are to 
lay the hog down with the side up corresponding to the miss- 
sing testicle, have the upper hind leg drawn back by an assist- 
ant. Cut the bristles off from a large spot in the flank, then 
make an incision the same as for spaying a sow (See Index). 
You may have to make the incision large enough to admit the 
whole hand which must be done very carefully, feeling for the 
testicle between the kidney and the bladder. When you have 
found it remove it with the spaying shears, or tie a linen 
thread around the cord close to the body and cut off the tes- 
ticle about one-half inch from the string ; allow the cord and 
string to fall back into the abdominal cavity and sew up the 
opening with cotton twine. Sew it " over and over " with the 
stitches not more than half an inch apart. Pass the needle 
down through the skin, flesh and thin, white lining of the 
belly, then up through the thin, white lining, flesh and skin, 
and so on until you have closed the opening. Rub on a little 
tar and the operation is complete. 

SCROTAL HERNIA IN THE HOG. 

THE RUPTURED BOAR,. 

Is castrated by making a long cut through the skin, dissect- 
ing out the white sack that covers the testicles and bowels, the 
same as the stallion, but instead of using a clamp you will 
tie a stout string around the sack close to the body, and it is 



162 



THE RAM OR BUCK SHEEP, 



a good practice to have a needle on the string to take a stitch 
or two through the sack to prevent the string from slipping 
off; cut the sack and testicle off an inch from the string ; 
leave the string long enough to hang out of the wound. This, 
if properly done, will make your hog perfectly smooth. 

THE RAM OR BUCK SHEEP. 

The old ram often dies from castration by the methods 
now in vogue, which I will not stop to enumerate, but will 
endeavor to make plain a method which has always (without a 
single exception to my knowledge) proved successful. 




35fe; 




[conkey's buck clamp.] 

Take two pieces of dry oak wood five inches long and three- 
fourths of an inch sqare, lay them together in a vice and bore 
a one-quarter inch hole through both ends of each piece three- 
quarters of an inch from the end for bolts, now you will bevel 
the face side (that is the sides that touch together) commencing 
one inch from the end and bevel towards the center (leaving 
the ends square where the bolts go through) ; you will bevel 
each corner off until the surface will be a half inch or less 
in thickness. Now smooth off the outside corners and it is 
ready for use. Lay the ram on his back, have an assistant 
take hold of the bag and testicles and draw them up away 



THE LAMB. 163 

from the body as far as he can and hold it there while you 
apply the clamp ; put it on lengthwise of, and close to the body 
as you can get it. One bolt is to be put in the clamp before 
it is applied, you will now put in the other bolt and proceed to 
tighten the burs with a wrench as tight as you can get them 
handily, then cut the bag, testicles and all off about one-half 
inch from the clamp and let him go. The clamp must be 
allowed to slough off. By this method there is no possible 
wav for septic germs to enter the body from the fact that 
nothing can pass between the clamp. I have never heard one 
word of complaint where this method was adopted. No after 
treatment required. 

THE LAMB. 

This is a very simple operation, and usually successful in 
its termination. Stand a barrel on the barn floor in a con- 
venient place, have a can of pine tar and spirits turpentine-, 
equal parts, warmed together, a small brush or swab, a sharp 
knife, and you are ready. Your assistant will now bring a 
lamb, lay it on the barrel with both right legs in his right 
hand, and both left legs in his left hand, front legs outside, 
feet sticking back and the hind legs inside, feet along the 
breast. You now take hold of the end of the bag and cut 
about one-third of it off, then take hold of the bag with the 
thumb and finger and force the testicles out taking hold of 
them with your teeth and pulling them out until they break 
off. I recommend extracting them with the teeth for two 
reasons : First, it is much the quickest way. Second, you do 
not get the oil or grease from the wool into the wound, which 
seems to set up an irritation, which you are sure to do if you 
remove them with your fingers. Rub a little tar on the 



164 SCROTAL HERNIA IN OLD HORSES. 

wound and let him go. Use the tar quite freely as it will 
keep the blow fly away. 

SCROTAL HERNIA IN OLD HORSES. 

BREACH, RUPTURE INTO THE SCROTUM. 

When it becomes necessary to castrate a horse with 
scrotal hernia, secure him in the same way as for ordinary 
castration. Have a good, strong clamp previously prepared 
(it is a good practice to secure the clamps with quarter inch 
iron bolts for a large horse) cut through the scrotum carefully, 
but do not cut the tunica vaginalis (white covering). Make 
a good, long cut through the scrotum and dissect out the 
white covering by skinning back the scrotum until the white 
cover or sack that holds the bowel and testicle is all free as far as 
the body. Then you will force the bowell back into the body 
retaining the testicle. Now have an assistant apply the clamp 
moderately tight close to the body, then make a small open- 
ing into the sack freeing the testicle. Draw it and the fleshy 
part of the cord out, fasten the clamp perfectly tight, cut ofl 
the testicle and sack about one-half inch from the clamp, 
take a needle and sew up the sack below and the whole length 
of the clamp ; sew over and over. This forms a seam pre- 
venting the clamp from slipping off. The clamp must not be 
removed, but allowed to slough off, which will take from 7 to 
14 days. In bad cases you may have to operate two or three 
times before the animal is perfectly smooth. This operation 
has always proved successful with me. Internal Treatment. — 
Give a laxative ball or drench followed by a scalded bran 
mash once a day with an occasional dose of saltpetre, say a 
tablespoonful once or twice a day for a few days. 



SPAYING THE MARE. 165 

SCKOTAL HERNIA. 

RUPTURE, OR BREACH IN THE COLT. 

If the colt seems to suffer no inconvenience it is not best 
to interfere with him, as a spontaneous cure is often aflected 
when the colt is put on dry feed, which causes the large intes- 
tines to drop down on the floor ot the abdomen crowding the 
small ones forward out of the scrotum. However, should the 
bowel become strangulated causing colic pains, he had best 
be castrated at once, which is done in the same manner as in 
old horses (See Index). If properly done there is no danger 
to be anticipated. 

THE DOG. 

Tie a stout string around the nose 
and back over the head to prevent him 
from biting, and operate the same as 
with the boar. No after treatment is 
required. 

THE CAT. 

Take a two-bushel bag, spread it out upon the floor, lay 
the cat down carefully with all the legs extended toward the 
head and the scrotum at the edge of the bag, then roll the cat 
up in the bag as tightly as possible, then set down in a chair 
and lay the cat between your legs with the cat's head in the 
chair and under your leg and the hind parts up between the 
legs with the back toward you and castrate the same as a 
hog. No after treatment required. 

SPAYING THE MAEE. 

This operation is very rarely performed and never except 
in cases of bad kickers. A worthless kicker will become kind 




166 SPAYING THE COW. 

and gentle after this operation, which is accomplished by cut- 
ting up through the vagina and drawing the ovaries down 
through the opening where they are to be removed with the 
long ecraseur. None but an expert should be allowed to 
undertake this operation, and then it may prove fatal. 

AFTER TREATMENT. 

See internal treatment of the horse after castration. 
Inject the vagina once a day with the following : 

Warm water 1 gallon 

Corrosive Sublimate 1 dram 

SPAYING THE COW. 

This operation is usually performed six or eight weeks 
after calving, and is best done while standing by cutting a 
hole up through the walls of the vagina close to the mouth of 
the womb large enough to introduce two fingers, with which 
the ovaries are pulled down and removed with the long 
ecraseur. 

SPAYING THE HEIFER. 




[the conkey spaying instrument.] 

After fasting twelve hours clip the hair all off from the 
angle of the right flank between the last rib and the point of 



SPAYING THE SOW. 167 

the hip, remove the dirt with a stiff horse brush, then lay her 
down on the left side using four hobbles. After she is down 
remove the hobble from the right leg and have it drawn back 
by an assistant. Make an incision up and down large enough 
to admit the hand, feel for the horn of the womb and follow it 
until you find the ovaries; feel for the lower one first and 
remove it with the Conkey Spaying Instrument, then remove 
the other ovary in the same manner. Return the parts and 
sew up the flesh first with carbolized cat gut, sewing over and 
over, then sew up the skin with carbolized silk or anything 
you like ; tie each stitch separate and from one-half to three- 
fourths of an inch apart. Select warm, dry weather, and 
great care must be taken to prevent any dirt, hair or other 
foreign substance from falling into the abdominal cavity. 
Dress once a day with 

Corrosive Sublimate 1 dram 

Water 1 quart 

SPAYING THE SOW. 

The sow is also to be fasted for twelve hours, and perhaps 
this rule would hold good in all animals that are to be oper- 
ated upon. 

The instruments used are a piece of cord (clothesline) 
three or four feet long, a pail of water and sponge, a sharp 
razor, a knife and curved needle three inches long. The 
knife should be a handle with a blade two and a half inches 
long by one-half or five-eighths of an inch wide, spear-pointed 
and very sharp. Take a two-inch plank one foot wide by 10 
feet, long, lay one end on the ground the other on tbe fence 
about three feet from the ground, drive a large nail or spike 
into the upper end of the plank, tie the ends of the cord 



168 SPAYING THE SOW. 

together forming a loop, hang the loop over the spike in the 
plank, set a barrel on the opposite side of the fence, set the 
pail of water on this barrel, lay your instruments beside it and 
you are ready. Stand with your left hand to the fence when 
facing the plank. Your assistant will now bring a hog, hav- 
ing hold of both left legs with the back towards him, he 
hands you the left hind leg which you take in your left hand, 
and he takes hold of the right front leg dropping the hog on 
the plank well up to the fence back toward you. With your 
right hand you lay the doubled or looped cord between the 
hind legs passing your right hand through the loop taking 
hold of both hind feet with your right hand ; the cord is now 
between the hind legs and over your right arm. Now take 
the cord in your left hand and drop it back around the hind 
legs ; this frees your right hand and at the same time forms a half 
hitch around both legs of the hog at once. Do not let go of 
the feet with your right hand until the hog has been drawn 
down the plank far enough to tighten the cord. Now take 
the sponge and wet the flank (not too wet), take the razor and 
shave off the bristles just in front and below the point of the 
hip, place the thumb of your left hand on the point of the 
hip and made a span with the forefinger towards the belly 
and a little forward ; move the thumb up to the finger pinch- 
ing up the skin in a fold, which you are to hold tightly, take 
the spaying knife and make a bold, free cut across this fold 
and let go the skin ; now you have a cut an inch and a half long 
running crosswise of the body. Next take hold of the knife 
something as you would a pen to write, with the cutting edge 
lengthwise of the hog and across the cut already made. As 
the hog makes an expiratory movement (that is to say as the 
air leave's the lungs) plunge the knife down into the hog 
about the middle of the cut already made, withdrawing the 



SPAYING THE SOW" 169 

knife quickly, lay it on the barrel and insert the first finger 
of the right hand feel for the ovary or the horn of the uterus. 
You may have some little trouble in finding this at first, and 
I would advise you to use an uterine sound, which is made in 
the shape of a letter S and about a foot long. This you 
will oil and introduce through the natural opening into 
the vagina with the left hand lifting up the organ so that you 
can readily feel it with the finger. ' When you get one horn 
you are to overhaul it until you come to the ovary, which has 
a reddish looking soft part attached called the fimbriated body. 
This you are to tear off with the ovary, for if left the sow is 
likely to come in heat again. Afcer you have taken off the 
ovary from one side you are to overhaul the uterus until you come 
to the fork where the two horns meet ; be very careful not to 
break the uterus off. When you get hold of the lower horn 
you are to overhaul it in a like manner until you find the 
ovary, which is to be twisted and broken off. Do not cut 
them off, as that would cause a great beal of bleeding Eeturn 
the uterus carefully; be sure that you get it through the thin> 
white lining of the belly. Take the needle, previously threaded, 




pass it down through the skin at the middle ot the skin cut, 
then down through the flesh and thin, white, lining of the belly 
in the middle of the flesh cut, now up through the white lining 
and flesh on the opposite side of the flesh cut, and lastly up 
through the skin tying the string firmly. Daub on a little tar 
and let her go. In spaying large hogs the uterus should be 
returned as fast as it is overhauled, never allowing more than 



170 SPAYING THE BITCH. 

a foot exposed to the air at once, as it is liable to swell and 
give you. a good deal of trouble in returning it. Old sows 
raay be spayed with perfect safety, but the best age is from 8 
to 12 weeks old. With a little practice you can spay a sow 
in about three minutes. A year or so ago I handled for Mr. 
Dennis Dailey, of Dowagiac, Mich., eighty hogs (averaging 
about a hundred pounds each) in three hours, the majority 
(57) where sows, which I spayed, castrated the boars and 
punched a hole in each ear of every hog. Mr. F. Foster kept 
tally, Mr. Daily handed me the instruments while bis son and 
hired man caught the hogs. Eighty hogs in 183 minutes — a 
2:15 gate — without a skip (death), and I should be pleased to 
hear from the man that can break the record. 

SPAYING THE BITCH. 

This is quite a difficult operation to perform, as it is hard 
to distinguish the difference, by the feel, 
between the fat and the generative organs. 
For this reason it is always, best to provide 
yourself with a uterine sound, and the 
common male catheter, which can be 
bought at any drug store for 25 cents, answers well for 
this purpose. Modus Operandi. — First take a piece of wool 
twine or other stout string, tie it around the nose and under 
jaw tightly, then up over the back or top of the head so that 
it cannot slip off (See Engraving) ; this is to prevent them 
from biting. Now lay her on a table or other convenient place 
with one man at each end of the dog ho'ding the legs with her 
back towards you. Make the cut on the median line in iront 
of the two lafet teats and between the next two, two or three 
inches in length and lengthwise of thu belly following the 




COMPLICATIONS FOLLOWING CASTRATION. 171 

light colored mark in the middle. After you have cut 
through introduce one or two fingers of the right hand 
through the wound and the sound or probe from behind into 
the vagina; be careful and do not get the probe into the 
bladder, but work it carefully into the vagina. When you 
can feel it with the fingers of the right hand this tells you 
when you have the horn of the uterus, which is to be carefully 
drawn out, when you will take hold of the uterus (pup bed) 
with the left hand, pull enough to make it tight, then follow it 
with the forefinger of the right hand in toward the back until 
you find the ovary, which must be torn loose with the fingers 
and brought out. You must be careful or you will break off. 
the uterus and leave the ovary, in which case she will come in 
heat, but will not breed. Tear the little cord-like uterus 
loose from the fat, returning the fat. Now follow the uterus 
back until you find the fork where they unite, get the other 
horn and remove it in the same manner. When you have 
them both out twist them off, or, what is better, remove them 
with the spaying shears at the point where the two horns 
meet. Return the fat and sew up the wound by sewing it 
over and over, down through the skin and flesh, up through 
the flesh and skin with three or four stitches. Now cut the 
stitches and tie them separately, which completes theoperaUon. 
Give at once internally one-half ounce of syrup of buck 
thorn. About the third or fourth day cut the stitches at the 
side of the knot and the dog will remove them herself. 
Results always favorable in my practice. 

COMPLICATIONS FOLLOWING CASTRATION. 

While the operation of castration is comparatively simple 
and easy, yet it is not entirely free from accidents or complica- 



1~2 COMPLICATIONS FOLLOWING CASTRATION. 

tions. Indeed there are some things of a very serious char- 
acter which develope themselves regardless of the skill or care 
with which the operation may have been performed, such as 
colic, bleeding, swelling of the scrotum, gangrene, abscesses, 
locked jaw, etc. 

COLIC. 

This is liable to appear shortly after the operation. 

SYMPTOMS. 

Pawing, stamping, lying down, rolling, etc. 

TREATMENT. 

Give one-half ounce of chloral hydrate in a teacupful of 
water as a drench, and repeat the dose every half hour until 
relieved, then you are to give from one-half to one pint of 
raw linseed oil at once. Treatment is always satisfactory. 

ABSCESSES. 

These result from the wound closing too soon after the 
operation, which imprisons the pus or matter. To prevent 
this complication it is urged in the article on castration that a 
large opening, say three or four inches long, be made in the 
scrotum at the time of castrating, and it is farther urged that 
it be kept open by inserting the hand up into the wound once 
or twice a day for several days after the operation. However, 
should an abscess form it is to be opened by a free incision 
the whole of its length, thoroughly cleansed with water, (warm 
or cold), then take cotton batting enough to fill the cavity, 
tie a string around it and saturate it with the following : 

Corrosive Sublimate % dram 

Water % teacupful 

Put the sublimate into a teacup and pour on the water 



COMPLICATIONS FOLLOWING CASTRATION. 173 

boiling hot, then wet the cotton in the solution and pack it 
into the wound. Allow it to remain for 24 hours, then remove 
it by the string, which is left hanging out. Bathe the parts 
with white lotion, injecting it into the wound once or twice a 
day until well. 

INTERNAL TREATMENT. 

Give one tablespoonful of the following fhree times a day 
in the feed or on the tongue : 

Powdered Nitrate of Potash 10 ounces 

Quinine 4 drams 

Mix. Feed on a laxative, nutritious diet, and give well 
regulated exercise. Should the bowels become constipated 
give one-half pint of raw oil once a day until they are loose. 

CHAMPIGNON OR SCHIRROUS CORD. 

An enlargement at the end of the cord occurring soon 
after castration. At times it developes itself quickly ; again 
its growth is very slow. Causes are obscure. Cast the ani- 
mal and dissect out the enlargement and remove it either with 
the ecraseur or by the clamp. Treatment is then the same as 
that given for abscess. 

GANGRENE. 

This complication usually presents itself from the fifth to 
tenth day. 

SYMPTOMS. 

Extensive swelling, the parts are cold, and by inserting 
your hand into the wound you will find it cold to the touch, a 
loss of sensibility, the discharge is dark and has a disagreeable 
odor. There is usually an intense thirst, quickened pulse, the 
visible mucous membrane (lining of the nose) is of a lead 



174 COMPLICATIONS FOLLOWING CASTRATION. 

color, and the breath offensive. The progress of this disease 
is so rapid, and the chances of recovery so limited, that treat- 
ment must be prompt and energetic 

TREATMENT. 

Cast the animal and cut out all the diseased tissue (fL sh), 
sear the wound over with an iron at white heat, then silt 
finely powdered corrosive sublimate into the wound ; be su>e 
that it comes in contact with all parts of the wuuud; ro'l a 
ball of cotton batt'ng in the powder, press it into the wound, 
take a stitch across the wound to hold the batting in and let 
him up. Now bathe the swo.leu parts with the following: 

Aqua Ammonia 4 ounces 

Spirits Turpentine 4 " 

Alcohol 4 " 

Mix and bathe freely morning and evening until the 
the parts are blistered. Cut the stitches and remove the cot- 
ton at the expiration of 24 hours ; wait 24 hours longer, and 
then with a syringe inject the following': 

Corrosive Sublimate , X A dram 

Water ." 1 pint 

Inject this once" a day until light colored pus or matter 
flows freely, which is a sign of recovery. So long as the matter 
is of a dark or bloody color having an offensive smell, you 
have a critical case. 

INTERNAL TREATMENT. 

Give the following drench at once : 

Eaw Linseed Oil % pint 

Spirits Turpentine 1 ounce 



COMPLICATIONS FOLLOWING CASTRATION. 175 

Continue this drench once a day until the swelling begins 
to subside. You will also prepare at once 

Powdered Nitrate of Potash 8 ounces 

Quinine 3 drams 

Mix and give one tablespoonful three times a day in the 
feed or on the tongue. Feed scalded bran mash it he will eat 
it, with all the p'ire, fresh water he will drink. Allow him to 
pick grass in fair weather, and a loose box stall in stormy- 
weather. When convalescent (begins to recover) you will give 
instead of the quinine 

Iodide of Potash 4 ounces 

Water 1 pint 

Mix. Dose, tablespoonful three times a day. 

MAGGOTS (PLY BLOWN). 

Should you find worms commonly called maggots in the 
wound you are to enlarge it arid dig them out with a stick, 
or what is still better, your fingers, then saturate the wound 
wiih spirits of turpent r ne, aqua ammonia and alcohol, equal 
parts ; mix. Or you may use 

Creosote 1 ounce 

Alcohol 4 ounces 

Mix. Eiiher of these remedies appli. d once, or possibly 
twice, will d stroy maggots. Then dress once a day for a 
few days with cnqoound tincture of myrrh or piDe tar. 



VETERINARY DENTISTRY, 



CHAPTER V. 



THE TEETH. 



The teeth are objects implanted in and projecting from 
the maxilliary alveola. They are characterized by the hard- 
ness and density of their specific tissue. Teeth vary with the 
class of animal in number, size, form, structure, position and 
attachment. 

The following table shows the number of teeth in the 
different domesticated animals : 



Animals. 



Horse. 
Ox. . . . 
Sheep . 
Dog. . . 
Pig. . . 
Cat... 



Incisors. 


Canine. 


Molars. 


Total. 


12 


4 


24 


40 


6 


2 


24 


32 


6 


2 


24 


32 


12 


4 


26 


42 


12 


4 


28 


44 


12 


4 


14 


30 



The ox and sheep (ruminants) have neither incisors or 
canine teeth in the upper jaw, they being supplemented by a 
hard, cartilaginous pad covered by the mucous membrane of 
the hard palate (ihe roof of the mouth) forming a point for 
the lower incisors to press against while cropping grass, 
Dentine constitutes the greater part of the tooth. Enamel is 



AGE AS INDICATED BY THE TEETH. 177 

distinguished by its whiteness, and is the hardest animal tex- 
ture. Crusta petrosa, or cementum completely covers the 
imbedded portion of the tooth, and is the softest part, closely 
resembling bone. Teeth may be simple or compound, simple 
as in the dog, where the entire exposed surface is covered with 
enamel. Compound as in the horse, where the various tissues 
are in wear. Teeth are arranged alongside of each other so 
as to form the dental arch. Teeth are of three kinds : The 
incisors, or cutting teeth, often called nippers ; the canine teeth, 
or tushes, are situated between the incisors and molars, or 
grinders. 

The horse, like many other animals and man, has two 
sets of teeth — the temporary, or milk teeth, and the permanent, 
or horse teeth. There are 24 milk, and 40 permanent teeth. 
The mare usually has but 36 teeth. 

The incisors, or front teeth, in the horse are 12 in number 
six in each jaw, the upper ones are the longer, meeting the 
lower. In rare cases they overlap the lower and th>n are 
called " Parrot mouth." The younger the teeth the greater 
their width, which gradually narrows with age. 

AGE AS INDICATED BY THE TEETH. 

The teeth undergo a change each year from birth up to 
the sixth year. After this the age can only be aj)proxiruately 
determined by the wear in altering the shape of the teeth, cir- 
cumstances often modifying the wear of them. Hence, after 
six years old, an approximately correct opinion can only be 
formed by those who have given this subject much time and 
thought. The colt is born with two, sometimes three, tempor- 
ary molars in each jaw. At about 12 months old another 
molar, a permanent tooth, appears, and before the expiration 



ITS 



THE MILK TEETH. 



of the second year a fifth molar, also a permanent tooth, shows 
itself. At about two and a half years old the two first tem- 
porary molars are replaced by permanent teeth, and between 
three and four the remaining temporary molars are replaced 
by permanent teeth. About this time the last, or sixth, perma- 
nent molar begins to appear. The molars are seldom referred 
to as an index of the age on account of their location Never- 
theless it is useful to be acquainted with their changes. After 
four years old the molars are not taken into consideration in 
determining the age. 




THE MILK TEETH. 



The colt is born with his front teeth covered with the 
gums, and at various periods during the first eight or ten 
months the different temporary incisors appear, which is very 
beautifully illustrated in the following verses. 



GENERAL REMARKS ON TEETH. 179 



At two the middle nippers drop; 

THE HORSE'S AGE. At three the second pair con't stop : 

When four years old the third pair goes; 
At five a full new set he shows. 

To tell the age of any horse The deep, dark spots pass from view, 

Inspect the lower jaw, of course, At six years, from the middle two; 

The six front teeth the tale will tell The second pair at seven goes; 

And every doubt and fear dispel. At eight the spots each corner lose. 

Two middle "nippers" you behold From middle nippers, upper jaw, 

Before the colt is two weeks old ; At nine the black spots will withdraw; 

Before eight weeks two more will come; Tha second pair at ten are white; 

Eight months the corners cut the gum. Eleven rinds the corners light. 

The outside grooves will disappear As time goes on the horsemen know, 

From middle two in just one year , The oval teeth three-sided grow; 

In two years from the second pair; They longer get, project before. 

In three the corners, too, are hare. 'Till 20, when age is known no more. 



GENERAL REMARKS ON TEETH. 

Having briefly described the teeth and their changes, 
I will now proceed to speak of a few of the many ails inci- 
dent to the horse's mouth and head in consequence of diseased 
teeth and the irregularity of their wear. 

There is no part of a horse that requires more care and 
attention than the mouth, and the cow is not to be excluded. 
The horse being mute cannot tell us of his aches and 
pains, yet if we give him the attention due any faithful servant 
we are sure to note his complaining by the various attitudes 
assumed while eating, drinking and driving. Many horses 
die annually from indigestion, the primary cause being 
faulty teeth. This statement may seem strange to many who 
have never chanced to examine the horse's mouth. The wear 
of the teeth is such that the inside of the lower and the outside 
of the upper teeth are left sharp. Thus it will be seen that in 
the first instance the tongue is wounded during mastication, 



180 ULCERATED TEETH. 

and in the latter the cheek is wounded at times to a consider- 
able extent. When the mouth becomes thus mutilated the 
food is taken into the stomach in a very crude state, the 
results of non-mastication, in consequence of which the stomach 
is overtaxed. Following this we have indigestion, colic, 
flatus, etc. 

ULCERATED TEETH. 

The first symptoms usually are a swelling which is at- 
tributed to a kick or knock on the jaw or face. In the course 
of a week or two this swelling suppurates and breaks discharg- 
ing matter or pus which has a fetid, offeDsive smell. Some- 
times the ulcer of an upper tooth will open into the nasal 
cavity and discharge from the dostril. This condition has 
often been mistaken for nasal gleet and glanders. 

While I do not suppose for a moment that a stock raiser 
or farmer is going to attempt the extraction of these teeth, 
yet we make mention of these facts that they may be on the 
lookout. 

SYMPTOMS OF BAD TEETH. 

At times a horse will carry his head to one side while 
being driven " Side Line." Again you will see an animal 
while eating grain, extend the head, turning it over sidewise 
while in the act of chewing, or you may see a horse take hay 
into his mouth, chew it a while and then spit it out ; other 
times the coat will be staring and unthrifty, the results of 
indigestion brought about by bad teeth. A discharge from 
the nose of a fetid, ofiensive smell, or a discharge of stinking 
matter from a sore on the under jaw are all signs of bad teeth, 
and should you see any one of the foregoing symptoms I 



WOLF TEETH. 



181 



would advise you to consult a veterinary dentist at once, thus 
relieving the suffering of a poor dumb animal that serves you 
more faithfully than your domestics. 

WOLF TEETH. 




[the wolf tooth forceps.] 

These are supernumerary teeth and are usually situated 
just in front and close to the first upper molars. However, 
these teeth may be found in any part of the body. I once 
found one in front of and close to the ho r se's ears, and Uncle 
John Steiner. of Blufiton, Ohio, once found one i n the sper- 
matic cord of a horse near the testicle. 

There has been much said and writen about the wolf tooth 
and its influence over the eye. My opinion is that if the 
tooth is an extra long one, it will effect the eye, but if a short 
one, as is usually the case, no harm can come from it. How- 
ever, as they do no good, I should advise their removal by 
extraction and not by breaking them off. The above cut 
shows the forceps used for this purpose. 

DRESSING THE TEETH. 




[the float.] 



When you have a horse with sharp projections on the 



182 



DRESSING THE TEETH.— LAMPAS. 



outside of the upper and inside of the lower teeth, you are to 
remove them with the Float by carefully filing them off. 
Do not file the face or articulating surface of the teeth, but 
the edges alone. There are men traveling the country as 
veterinary dentists, who leave the mouth in a much worse 
condition than they find it by overdoing ; that is to say by 
rasping the grinding surface too much. When your animal 
has once been subjected to the maltreatment of these vile pre- 
tenders, nothing but time and lots of it can restore the fine 
grinding surface of the tooth to its natural condition. 

TREPHINING. 




[the trephine.] 

There are some diseases of the head and teeth that cannot 
be treated without trephining (cutting a hole through the 
bones of the head) with the above instrument. This operation 
should never be undertaken except by a duly qualified veter- 
inary surgeon. However, there are some difficulties that can 
be remedied by the use of the float alone. 

LAMPAS. 



A mild inflammation of the bars of the mouth causing 
them to swell to an extent which may interfere with mastica- 
tion. Take a sharp knife and make a few cuts across the 



REFUSING TO EAT WITHOUT DISEASE. 183 

the first two bars say five or six marks sufficiently deep to 
cause bleeding and bathe with alum water. Do not burn 
them nor allow anyone to burn them for you, as it is not only 
a useless, but a barbarous practice. 

THE CONKEY INCISOR CUTTING FORCEPS. 




[patent applied for.] 

With this instrument the incisors or nippers of a horse 
can be cut off in five miuutes. They are easily worked with 
one hand, and do not split or mutilate the teeth, but leave 
them nice and smooth. For particulars, address, 

L. L. CONKEY, V. S. 
Office No. 6 Canal St., 
Grand Rapids, Mich. 

REFUSING TO EAT WITHOUT DISEASE. 

If a horse refuses to eat without any apparent signs of 
disease, you had better examine his mouth well back to the 
roots of the tongue for a corncob or other hard substance, which 
may be lodged there. On several occasions I have found a 
piece of corncob lodged between the back teeth crosswise of 
the mouth. These animals have been treated for all kinds of 
diseases by local talent without the slightest idea of what was 
wrong. 



THE EYE AND EAR, 



CHAPTER VI. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE EYE. 

If the inflammation be due to external injury as a blow, 
the stroke of the whip, the bite of an insect, the mark will 
usually show itself. The cause of an injury to the eye at 
times is a matter of importance, as a man's character may 
be at stake, the owner blaming his employe for striking the ani- 
mal and causing the disease. In such cases the veterinarian 
is appealed to by both parties. The symptoms are usually 
quite plain, there is swelling and redness with tears flowing 
from the eyes, and often we find an abrasion (wound) of the 
external covering of the eye which may look at first quite 
serious, but if the proper treatment is adopted the results are 
surprising. 

TREATMENT. 

Remove the cause of irritation, then bathe, in mild cases, 
with warm water, but the more severe cases will require bleed- 
ing from the angular vein below the eye; make a large open- 

Note. — You must not confound this disease with the conditions 
somtimes met with in influenza; the purgative iu that case might kill. 



PERIODICAL OPTHALMIA. 185 

ing and allow it to bleed freely for sometime, and in most 
cases you can allow it to stop of its own accord. After the 
bleediDg stops hang a piece of light cloth over the eye fasten- 
ing it into the halter with holes for the ears, then wet an 
extra piece of cloth in the following and lay it over the eye 
under the cloth already affixed : 

Atropine Sulphate 10 grains 

Water 1 pint 

Mix. Apply three or four times a day. Give a purga- 
tive ball at once followed by a few ten drop doses of aconite, 
then a few tablespoon doses of nitrate of potash. A dark stall 
is always to be preferred for horses suffering with diseased 

eyes. 

PEKIODICAL OPTHALMIA. 

MOON BLINDNESS, CONSTITUTIONAL OPTHALMIA. 

This disease is of a transitory character at first, but sooner 
or later comes to stay. This disease is not so common as it 
used to be in the days of log stables without windows. Some 
attribute this decline to the veterinarians, but I' think it is 
due to better stabling. 

SYMPTOMS. 

It usually comes suddenly and in the night. The eyes 
appear to be weak, the lid is drawn down a little, while the 
eyeball is drawn back in the socket giving it the appearance 
of being smaller than its mate. The inflammation is apt to 
move from one eye to the other, then in a few days disappear alto- 
gether, but often leaves the eyelid in a peculiar wrinkled con- 
dition. The eye may remain free from active inflammation 



186 DISEASED HAW. 

for a time, when the animal is again attacked, the eye is 
closed, weeping and apparently suffering intense pain. Again 
the disease may disappear for weeks or monthss and 
then return, this going and coming may be of short durations, 
or marked with long intervals, but the final results are the 
formation of a cataract in one eye and then in the other until 
the animal is totally blind. Prof. Smith, of the Toronto 
Veterinary College, says : " Never breed a mare to a horse 
suffering from periodical opthalmia." 

TREATMENT. 

Is only palative and consists in giving a purgative ball 
and bran mashes followed by frequent doses of epsom salt 
(quarter pound), bathing the eye often with 

Zinc Sulphate 2 drams 

Fluid Extract Belladouna 2 " 

Loaf Sugar 2 " 

Water 1 pint 

Mix and bathe frequently in the same manner as recom- 
mended in inflammation of the eye. Keep the animal in a 
well ventilated dark stall ; avoid overwork and fatigue. 

DISEASED HAW. 

The membrane nictitans, commonly called the haw, which 
is the horse's pocket handkerchief used in removing foreign 
bodies from the eye, sometimes becomes ioflammed caused 
by an irritation of some kind ; the haw is red and swollen. 
This condition has often been termed " the hooks," and the 
haw used to be cut out by the ignorant pretender. Whenever 
a horse is found suffering with an inflammation of the haw 



WARTS IN THE EYE. 187 

use warm water applied with cloths in the same manner as 
described in inflammation of the eye after fomenting for a day 
or two, use the following for a week : 

Zinc Sulphate 1 dram 

Sugar Lead % " 

Loaf Sugar ■ 2 " 

Water 1 quart 

Mix and bathe frequently. 

WARTS m THE EYE. 

These are sometimes very troublesome and may cause 
blindness. They are of two varieties in the horse and a third 
of a malignant form in the cow 

SYMPTOMS. 

The most common form met with in the horse is the red, 
or blood wart, which makes its appearance in the lower 
corner of the e)e, and may grow very rapidly, soon covering 
the whole eye. The second variety is of a black color ; this 
also grows in the lower corner, and like the red wart, it is at- 
tached to the haw. This is called a melanotic tumor, and is 
common to white or grey horses. 

TREATMENT. 

First cast the animal in the most convenient way, then 
take the curved needle armed with a cotton cord, and pass it 
through the wart ; the string is to draw the wart out and hold 
it while you are cutting it loose with the shears. In most 
cases you will have to remove the whole membrane nictitans, 
and you are pretty sure of a complete recovery. After the 



188 EAR— WAKTS. 

removal you are to bathe the eye frequently with the follow- 
ing: 

Zinc Sulphate 1 dram 

Tincture Belladonna 1 ounce 

Rain Water 1 pint 

This is a delicate operation and should be entrusted only 
to a skilled operator. 

EAR— WARTS. 

The most common ail to which the ear is subject is warts. 
These are of various kinds, and their removal is easily accom- 
plished with the knife, and usually without hampering the ani- 
mal more than applying the twist to the nose, when you will 
take hold of the wart with your hand or pass a needle through 
it drawing a string through for the purpose of drawing the 
wart away from the skin. Now take a sharp knife and cut 
the wart off ; be sure to remove all of its roots from the skin. 
There is not much bleeding following the removal of a wart 
from the ear. However, you might sear the wound over with 
a hot iron, and the bulb iron answers well for this purpose. 

DEAFNESS. 

The causes of deafness in the horse are obscure. In the 
army it comes from the noise produced by the guns, but I 
have seen a number of deaf horses that perhaps never heard 
the report of a gun. The symptoms are a general looseness of 
the ears, the animal may occasionally lift his ears in a natural 
position, but quickly drops them again, when they hang out- 
stretched from the head on either side and a little forward. 
It is barely possible that a horse that is not deaf might carry 
his ears in this manner, but if I saw a horse with his ears 
in an apparently lifeless condition I should examine him for 
deafness before passing an opinion as to soundness. 



OBSTETRICS AND PARTURITION. 



CHAPTER VII. 



GESTATION. 



The period that the mother carries her young varies con- 
siderably in different animals, and even in the same species 
there are variations, though not very great yet ot importance. 
The female elephant carries her young two years, and the 
female rabbit 28 days. The average period of the mare has 
been given at 11 months ; the longest period 400 and the 
shortest period 300 days. However, my own observations 
have placed the average period at 11 months and 15 days, and 
the foals that are carried longer are usually weak, crooked 
legged and detormed. Mares that are well fed carry their 
young longer than those in poor condition, and a mare bred 
to a thoroughbred stallion goes longer than a mare bred to a 
common bred horse. 

THE COW. 

It is commonly stated that the cow is pregnant the same 
length of time as a woman, which is true of the average, 
although the cow varies to some extent. In the " American 
Journal of Medical Science for 1845, in reporting 62 cows, 



190 SHEEP AND GOAT. 

gave the longest period as 336 days, and the shortest as 213 
days. The average for male calves being 288 days, and 
females 282 days." The farming community in general have 
an idea that the male calf is carried much longer than the 
female, but I do not thiuk that sex plays any part in the 
period of gestation in the cow. 

SHEEP AND GOAT. 

The sheep and goat carry their young about -five months, 
the average period of the ewe being 149 days the longest 
period being given to the ewe lambs. With regard to breeds, 
our best authors say that the " Merino average 150 d, 3 hrs, 
and the Southdowns only 144 d., 2 hrs, or about six diys less. 

The goat goes a few days lunger than the sheep. 

THE PIG. 

The pig is usually pregnant four months, all hough some 
authors gives the peiiod at three months, three weeks and three 
days. However, the average is 119 days. 

THE BITCH. 

The bitch carries her young from 58 to 65 days. 

THE CAT. 

The cat is pregnant from 50 to 60 days, the average being 
55 days or eight weeks. 

PLURIPAROTJS— TWINS. 

Of all domesticated animals the mare is the one that less 
frequently brings forth twins, and these are dead, or soon die, 



TWIN LAMBS. 191 

although I have seen a few pairs of twin colts that lived and 
did well. 

The following report may serve to interest the public: 
" The most numerous instances of twins in the mare are, how- 
ever, to be attributed to two successive fecundations, of which 
Saint-Cyr has collected eight examples. In all of these, 
strange to say, the mares had been put to a stallion oi the 
equine and asinine species in succession, and brought forth 
each a foal and a mule." 

The cow often brings forth two or three calves, and 
Fleming reports a small cow of the black polled breed that 
brought the following number of calves. In six years she had 
25 calves, as follows: 1, 3, 4, 2, 3, 6, 2, 4, seven of which 
died. She calved eight times in six years, and raised 18 
calves, an average of three calves a year. Kleinschmeid 
reports having found fifteen little calves in the uterus of a cow. 

TWIN LAMBS. 

This is very common and in a good flock of sheep there 
should be as many iambs as ewes, the doubles making up for 
the loss. " In May, 1876, a farmer had some ewes fattening 
aiid a neighbors ram got wiih them and 13 ewes got with 
lamb and produced no less than 31 lambs, all born alive, as 
follows : One, 1 ; eight, twins ; three, thriplets ; one, 5 — 31." 
It may be remarked that this extraordinary number is seldom 
seen in high-bred sheep. It appears to pertain to the com- 
mon bretds. Not only this but certain years are more rpmark- 
able than others lor double, treble, and quadruple births in 
sheep. 

FREE MARTINS. 
A curious fact in connection with twin calves is that if 



192 THE CARE OF PREGNANT ANIMALS. 

they are of both sex the female is usually unproductive, and 
for this reason they have been styled "Free martins" in 
English, " Queenen " in Holland, " Zwitter," or " Zwilling" in 
German, "Loures" in French. The old Roman agricultural- 
ists called these animals " Taurse." There has also been some 
doubts about the male being productive. One case is reported 
where a twin bull served one hundred cows, none of which 
proved with calve. Many similar reports are recorded, but 
this will suffice to give you an idea in a general way. 

THE CARE OF PREGNANT ANIMALS. 

The mare should not be worked too severely or fatigued 
particulary as the term advances, and on the other hand abso- 
lute rest is dangerous. Exercise is absolutely necessary and 
most, or all, cases of difficult parturition occur among those 
deprived of exercise. Mares in fold will perform ordinary 
work with benefit. Do not allow a mare in fold to stand in 
her stall for several days, or weeks, and then begin work by 
hauling heavy loads, and in no case allow her to be jerked 
suddenly, shocked or frightened. The food should be good 
and in abundance. Toward the end of the term scalded bran 
mashes, oil cake meal, etc., are to be given quite freely, and 
an occasional dose of raw oil (one-half pint) will be found 
beneficial along about foaling time. The cow is to be fed on a 
laxative diet, roots, scalded bran mash, etc. If the cow is fat 
you had best give her a good purgative two or three weeks 
before calving (See Apoplexy ;) this may be the means of sav- 
ing your cow's life, while a laxative, nutritious diet, some- 
thing to oil up the parts and assist nature in the great work 
she has to perform may be the means of saving the life of a 



THE NATURAL PRESENTATION AT FULL TERM. 198 

valuable colt or calf. A penny's worth of preventative is 
cheaper than a pound of cure, and this is the time to apply it, 




THE NATURAL PRESENTATION AT FULL TERM. 

The above engraving shows the position assumed by the 
foetus of the different domesticated animals at full term and 
any deviation from this position is unnatural and will require 
the assistance of man to complete delivery. However, the 
variations are numerous, some of them are mere trifles, while 
others are of a very grave nature. One leg may be crossed 
over the neck, one or both front legs may be completely retained 
or bent at the knee, again the head may be bent upwards or 
downwards, to the right or to the left and backwards the 
length of the neck. This is somewhat difficult to overcome in 
the mare, but comparatively easy in the cow on account of 
the difference in the length of neck. 

DR. CONKEY'S OBSTETRICAL SET. 

This set of obstetrical instruments are all made to fit the 
one handle, and when joined together are 30 inches long. 



194 



1>R. CONKEY'S OBSTETRICAL SET. 



These instruments are the results of the last 10 years 
practice having been improved upon from time to time, the 
last improvement, the shirld, was invented during the present 
month, January, 1890, and I feel that I can now say to the 
public that I have the only thoroughly practical set of instru- 
ments in the market. They are made of the best steel and 




[PATENT APPLIED FOR.j 

Figure i, Guarded Chisel Knife; 2, Repulser with removable spike; 3, Sharp 
Hook; 4, .Saw; 5, The Handle; 6, Sharp Knife with Funnel Shield; 7, Blunt 
Hook. 

guaranteed in every particular. The knife is so constructed 
that it is almost impossible to cut a mother. Price per set of 
seven pieces, nickle plated, $15, net. Address Dr. L. L. 
Conkey, Grand Rapids, Mich. I always carry two 
sharp and one blunt short ring hooks. These are nickle 
plated and will be sent on receipt of $1 each. 

NATURAL POSITION WITH THE HEAD BENT TO 
THE LEFT. 

This is perhaps the most common grave deviation met 
with, and is not so hard to overcome in the cow, but on 
account of the length of the colt's neck it often gives the oper- 
ator a hard task, not infrequently resulting in the death of 



EMBRYOTOMY. 195 

both mother and foal. However, the foal is usually dead 
before aid is called, on account of the connection between the 
foal and the mother being severed with the first labor pain, 
and it is acknowledged that the foal cannot live past the sixth 
hour thereafter, but often dies in less time. The connection 
between the mother and calf differs and is never severed until 
the calf leaves the mother altogether ; for this reason the cow 
may be in labor for several days and the calf be born alive. 
Again, difficult labor of the mare, in which pulling and work- 
ing has been severe and somewhat contracted, the results are 
often unfavorable, while in the cow the reverse is the case. 

EMBRYOTOMY. 

THE ACT OF TAKING THE YOUNG BY CUTTING IT AWAY. 

I will endeavor to describe the mode of taking a colt 
away when the head is retained and bent to the left, as shown 
in the cow (See Engraving next page), which is as follows : 
Stand the mare in a stall, put a halter on, run the tie strap 
through the usual place in the manger, do not tie it, but give 
it to an assistant, who will stand near the shoulder and en- 
deavor to keep the mare quiet. A second man will stand at 
the hips to keep the tail out of the way and hand you the 
instruments. ISTow take off your coat, vest, and shirt, put 
on an old vest, soap or grease your arms and you are ready. 
Fasten a cord or small rope to each pastern of the colt, tie 
a third cord to one of the short blunt hooks and endeavor 
to hook it into the colt's mouth or eye. Should you 
succeed you will no^w push the legs and body back as 
far as possible holding it there with the repulser (No. 2), 
fixed by the screw to jSTo. 5, and held by an assist- 



196 



EMBRYOTOMY. 



ant ; now pull the head out as far as possible, when you 
can reach the mouth you will fix a loop over the 
nose and through the mouth and continue your pushing and 
pulling until the head is straight when it will come away with 




little or no help. This, however, is much easier said than 
done, and if you fail in straightening the head you will 
adopt the following : Have the legs drawn well out, fix the 
knife (No. 6) to the handle (No. 5), take the knife in your 
left hand and the handle in the right, carefully introduce the 
knife, keeping it in your hand until you reach the left shoulder 
of the colt, then hook it into the shoulder of the colt 
and carefully withdraw it cutting , s the skin open to 
the foot ; now lay the knife away and with your hand 
loosen the skin from the leg; do not cut the skin off" at the foot 



EMBRYOTOMY. . 197 

until you have loosened it all around the leg to the body, 
beyond the elbow ; now cut the skin off below the knee, have 
your assistants pull on the left leg which will tighten the 
muscles, now fix the chisel (No. 1) to the handle, take it in 
your left hand and introduce it for the purpose of cutting the 
muscles between the leg and breast bone of the colt. When 
this is done one good, smart pull will bring the leg away. 
Now renew your attempt to get the head, and if you again fail 
which is apt to be the case, you will cut the head off. First 
use the knife to cut the upper muscles to the bone, then fix 
the saw (No. 4) to the handle and pass it in carefully guiding 
it with your left hand ; when you have the saw in the right 
place take hold of the neck with the left hand and do the 
sawing with the right or open air hand ; saw the neck bone 
off, then take the knife and cut the remaining muscles of the 
neck and bring the head aAvay. Now stop and oil the parts 

well with raw linseed 
oil or melted lard 
using the injection 

[THE INJECTION FUNNEL.] flUlIiel. After J Oil 

have oiled the parts well gently pull on the leg of the 
colt, keeping one hand over the stump of bone on the neck to 
prevent it from wounding the mother. When you have the 
colt away put one teaspoonful of permanginate of potash into 
a pailful of blood warm water and wash out the womb again 
using the injection funnel. Now give about four ounces of 
whisky, make a dry bed, close the doors and leave her alone 
for five or six hours, when she should have a warm bran mash 
and a pail of chilled water. If the labor has not been too severe 
she will require nothing more than ordinary care, but you 
must watch her closely for a few days as certain complications 




19S 



CROUP, OR BREACH PRESENTATION. 



may follow, though the operation may have been performed 
without difficulty. 




CROUP, OR BREACH PRESENTATION. 

While this is not so difficult in the cow, it is a herculean 
task in the mare. The first thing to be attempted is to pass 
a rope between the hind legs and bring it around the outside 
of the leg into the open air (keep the rope thoroughly greased 
with lard) and forming a slip-noose tightening it around the 
leg as you work it down toward the foot ; be sure to work it 
below the hock, and the fetlock is better but is difficult to get 
it lower than the hock at first. After you have one hock 
corded, cord the other in the same manner. As soon as you 
have both hocks secured you will station five men as follows : 
No. 1 at the head, No. 2 at the hip holding the tail out of the 
way, No. 3 at your right, No. 4 at your left, and No. 5 at 
your back to help you push. If the pains are excessive give 
the mare one-half ounce of chloral hydrate in half pint of water. 
Now as you push the colt forward No. 5 is to brace against 



TAKING COLTS AND CALVES. 199 

you assisting as best he can. As soon as you feel the colt 
going forward call on No. 3 to pull quick and steady back- 
ward and upward ; now push again, calling on No. 4 to pull 
backward and upward. Nos. 3 and 4 should stand on a box, 
or some object 18 inches high. If you watch and take ad- 
vantage of the time when the mare does not ]abor you will 
soon raise the hock joints into the pelvic cavity and there is 
nothing to prevent you from doing this when once you get a 
rope around the legs. After you have the hocks raised slip 
your rope down below the fetlock and proceed as before. 
When you have both legs out you will oil the parts thoroughly 
before you commence pulling, and then pull only when the mare 
labors. Hold what you have until she labors again. Continue 
this; pulling carefully until you get the colt away. 

SECOND MODE. 

Should you fail to get a rope around the legs you will 
adopt the following : Introduce the sharp knife (No. 6) into 
the rectum of the colt cutting the flesh away until you can 
remove the bowels, lungs, heart, etc., then attach a short ring 
hook to the pelvis bone ; cut and pull, pull and cut, until you 
get the pelvis away, next take one leg and then the other. 
Continue in this manner until you have the entire colt away. 
It does not take lung to tell this, but it requires about two 
hours' hard labor to accomplish the operation. 

GENERAL REMARKS ON TAKING COLTS AND 
CALVES. 

The manual labor in taking colts and calves from their 
mother depends much upon the different parts presented as 



200 TAKING COLTS AND CALVES. 

well as the efforts and condition of the mother. The first 
thing to consider is the regions of the body presented to the 
external opening. The next thought is the relative size and 
shape of the part presented compared with the opening. 
Again we must not overlook the symptoms afforded by the 
labor pains, as they are not always in harmony with nature, 
for we not infrequently meet with cases where the labor pains, 
or contractions, assume the opposite directions of those occur- 
ring in healthy labor. This is called 

TUMULTOUS LABOR. 

Symptoms. — The pains are excessive and frequent, yet no 
progress is made, the parts do not seem to be prepared, 
the mouth of the womb seems to be in a state of spasmodic 
contraction, hard and painful. The pains commence at the 
mouth of the womb and pass back, forcing the foetus toward 
the fundus. Tumultous labor is mostly confined to the primi- 
parse* 

TREATMENT. 

Give gentle exercise for an hour, then place her in a dark, 
quiet stall and give of 

Chloral Hydrate }., ounce 

Water % pint 

Then wet a sponge with fluid extract of belladonna and 
place it in the vagina back against the mouth of the womb, 
renewing the medicine every six hours. You will introduce 
your fingers into the womb, carefully dilating its mouth as 
often as you change the sponge. The calf will usually come 
away in 6, 12 or 24 hours after the irregular labor subsides. 
This ail is liable to be confounded with 

* One which has never before brought forth young. 



RIGIDNESS, OR SPASMS OF THE WOMB. 201 

INDURATION OF THE CERVIX. 

This term is applied to an altered condition of the mouth 
of the womb, and means in plain English that the mouth of 
the womb has lost its elasticity and will not open. It has a 
leathery feeling, but is not hard, hot and sensitive as in rigid- 
ity. Induration is only met with in the cow. 

TREATMENT. 

First endeavor to dilate the opening with your hand, but 
if you fail you will then have to make three to five cuts 
through the leathery part of the womb. The cuts are to be 
made each side of the center, and not in the center under 
any consideration. After you have taken the calf away, wash 
out [the womb, using the injection funnel with very warm 
water, using one or two teaspoonsful of permanginate of potash 
in each pail of water. This will usually stop the bleeding. 
Should there be much bleeding you are to give two to three 
ounces of tincture of opium in a little water, and you 
may have to pack the womb full of clothes saturated in vine- 
gar or alum water. However, I have never seen any bleed- 
ing after the hot water and potash was used. Give a few 
doses of quinine and attend the general comfort. 

RIGIDNESS, OR SPASMS OF THE WOMB. 

The symptoms vary somewhat. The only thing that is 
likely to awaken suspicion is the unusual duration of labor 
which may extend over two, three or four days, if assistance is 
not offered. In other instances the animal manifests an un- 
usual amount of excitement. The only other condition with 



202 INFLMMATION OF THE WOMB. 

which rigidity might be confounded is induration, but in 
rigidity the parts are hot, tense and painful, and without the 
leathery appearance of induration. 

TREATMENT. 

Give rectinal injections of 

Warm Water 1 gallon 

Tincture Belladonna 2 ounces 

Then take a good sized sponge and wet it with fluid extract of 
belladonna, and put it into the vagina as far as you can force 
it, leave it there six hours, then renew the belladonna and 
return it. Keep the animal in a dark stall by herself and as 
soon as the spasms relax the calf will come unassisted. 

INFLAMMATION OF THE WOMB. 

This is usually the result of, or follows parturition, es- 
pecially if the labor has been prolonged and difficult ; lying 
on damp ground, or exposure is liable to cause it. 

SYMPTOMS. 

It usually occurs the third or fourth day after foaling' 
The back is arched, urine passed frequently in small quantities, 
sometimes they will lie down, groan and occasionally look 
anxiously at the side, the pulse 80 or 90 beats per minute, 
mouth hot, ears cold, or alternately hot and cold, there is 
usually stamping or paddling of the hind feet and a whisking 
of the tail. 

TREATMENT. 

First gi\ r e one pint of raw linseed oil, then give 10 to 15 
drops of fluid extract of aconite root every four houis alter- 



PARTURIENT APOPLEXY. 203 

nate with nitrate of potash, a level tablespoonful every four 
hours ; this brings the medicine two hours apart. If there is 
a discharge from the vagina wash it out with warm water, 
using a little permanginate of potash — enough to color the 
water red. Repeat this once a day as long as the dis- 
charge lasts, u*ing about a pailful at each time. Apply the 
hartshorn liniment to the back, and it the legs are cold bathe 
them lightly also, then bandage. Keep her very warm, offer 
chilled water often and feed scalded bran mash and vegetables. 

PARTURIENT APOPLEXY. 

MILK FEVER, CALVING FEVER, ETC. 

This disease may properly be said to affect a certain class 
of cows only. Fat, easy keeping, heavy milkers are the ones 
subject to it, and it occurs from the third to the seventh calv- 
ing. The act of parturation (calving) seems to be the cause m 
Most writers say that apoplexy makes its appearance from one 
to three days after parturition. Flemming says that it may 
attack a cow as early as twelve or twenty hours after parturi- 
tion, but is most frequent on the second or third day. 

Out of twelve cases treated by me, five were attacked be- 
tween the twelfth and twentieth hours after parturition. Seven 
were attacked between the twentieth and the thirtieth hours. 
Those attacked early died, while the latter seven recovered. 
This leads to the iollowing conclusion : That the earlier the 
attack, the more fatal are the results, and the later the attack, 
the more favorable the results. 

SYMPTOMS. 

The first thing generally noticed will be a paddling, stag- 
gering gait. Some cases have been reported to me as " wab- 



204 PARTURIENT APOPLEXY. 

bling behind." These symptoms are speedily succeeded by loss 
motor power, the cow lying or falling down ; she may make an 
effort to get up, but usually fails. Sometimes they are very 
restless, throwing themselves violently, but usually lay quiet^ 
either outstretched with the head on the ground, or in a natu- 
ral position with the head thrown around against the side. 

All these changes may .take place in a few hours. An 
animal which was left in apparent good health a short time 
before, is found lying, cannot get up and is in a comatose 
(sleepy) condition. You can put your finger against the eye- 
ball without the animal evincing any pain. The breathing 
at first accelerated, soon becomes slow, deep and stentorious. 
Bowels are costive, and urine scanty. 

TREATMENT. 

First place the animal in a natural position by boulster- 
ing her up with sacks of straw, keep the head above the body 
by means of ropes. Do not allow her to lay stretched out on 
her side, but keep her lying on her sternum (breast bone) as a 
cow usually lays while ruminating (chewing the cud). Then 
take from four to six quarts of blood from the jugular vein, 
make a large ojDening that the blood may flow freely. After 
pinning up the wound you will give a purgative, composed of 

Aloes 2 ounces, 

Gention 1 " 

Croton Oil X dram. 

Add molasses enough to make this into a stiff mass, divide into 
three balls, give one every five minutes until you have given 
all three. Oil your hand and push the balls as far over the 
tongue as possible, where they will slowly gavitate into the 



DISOWNING ITS YOUNG. 205 

rumen (stomach). You will now take of 

Aqua Amonia 4 ounces, 

Spirits of Turpentine 4 " 

Mix, shake and bathe the back all along on both sides of the 
spine for a space of twelve or fourteen inches wide including 
the neck, also bathe the legs freely, giving plenty of hand rub- 
bing, then blanket, this promotes circulation. You will now 
oil your hand and pass it into the rectum and remove all the 
excrements that you can reach, then give warm water inject- 
ions freely and olten. No harm can possibly come from in- 
jections, even in large quantities. Offer her water to drink 
often, say once an hour. Afcer you have the cow nicely un- 
der treatment, you will give 

Fluid Extract of Noxvomica 1 dram, 

Whisky 4 ounces. 

In a half pint of warm water, every four to six hours, until 
she shows signs of improvement. I have always made it a 
practice to draw the milk hourly and consider it a good symp- 
tom to get milk, be the quantity ever so small. 

PREVENTATIVE TREATMENT. 

About four weeks before calving give the cow a good 
purgative. For this purpose take one pound of epsom salt, 
and boiling water enough to dissolve it, add one pint of 
molasses and pour it all down her at once. Then repeat the 
dose a week before calving. Your only safety from this 
dreaded malady is through preventative treatment. 

DISOWNING ITS YOUNG. 

It sometimes happens that the mother will disown its 
young and you have a great deal of trouble to get her to 



206 (EDEMA— "SWELLING." 

allow it to suck. I have frequently overcome this by rubbing 
the young over with the placental membrane (after birth), 
which causes the mother to lick it and take to it more kindly. 
In this way you can rub over a strange lamb with the after- 
birth of a ewe and she will generally own it and allow it to 
suck. 

(EDEMA—" SWELLING." 

This has often been dubbed farcy. In fact, nearly all 
swellings are styled water farcy by the horse doctors who are 
too lazy to read. Oedema is characterized by a swelling of 
the hind legs and belly in front of the udder. This swelling 
may be confined to the legs only, or it may be confined 
to the belly, sometimes slight, at others very great. 
Well bred animals are not so susceptible to it as the 
coarser bred. It is caused by the heft of the colt pressing on 
the abdominal bloodvessels preventing a free return of the 
blood, thus impairing circulation, causing an extravasation 
of the blood into the surrounding tissue. The swelling will 
usually disappear with exercise. There is nothing serious 
about this oedema of pregnant animals as it can usually be 
counteracted by scalded mashes and an occasional dose of oil 
with well regulated exercise, and will disappear in a day 
or two after foaling. 

RETENTION OF THE AFTERBIRTH. 

This accident in the mare must be attended to at once. 
The removal if effected by taking hold of the afterbirth with 
one hand, pulling it enough to give it a tension, then carefully 
work the fingers of the other hand between the afterbirth and 
the womb separating them carefully ; something of the same 



IMPRISONED AFTERBITH. 207 

manner that you would ^remove the pelt of a sheep. After 
you have the afterbirth removed you are to wash out the 
uterus with red lotion. Retention of the afterbirth is much 
more common in the cow than the mare. It is not at all 
uncommon to see cows, eight or ten days after calving, that 
have not got rid of their afterbirth, and yet they are lively, 
chew their cud, and give a good quantity of milk. 

TREATMENT. 

There is a great diversity of opinion on this subject, some 
claiming that it should be removed by manual labor. This 
may be true in some cases, but for me, I prefer the following 
treatment, which has, I think, given universal satisfaction. 

UTERINE TINCTURE. 

Powdered Savin 2 ounces 

" Cumin 1 " 

Treacle. 2 

Essence of Kue 1 " 

" " Savin 1 " 

Alcohol 20 " 

Mix and bottle for use. Of this tincture give one ounce in a 
half pint of raw linseed oil morning and evening until the 
afterbirth comes away. This remedy has always done the 
work for me, and I consider it second to none. 

IMPRISONED AFTERBIRTH. 

It sometimes happens that the afterbirth gets broken off, 
and I have known a few smart cow doctors who would pull 
the afterbirth out as far as they could handily and cut it off, 



208 ABORTION. 



when the remainder would drop back into the womb and the 
neck or mouth of the womb would close over it imprisoning 
the undetached portion, which would decay and come away in 
stinking, mattery fluid. 



SYMPTOMS. 



The cow runs down in flesh, falls off on her milk, back 
arched, with frequent straining as if to urinate when a quan- 
tity ot purulent matter will escape. 

TREATMENT. 

Wash out the womb once or twice a day with the red 
lotion, using the injection funnel, and give internally the 
following : 

Ergot of Rye 4 drams 

Eaw Linseed Oil 16 ounces 

Mix and give all at once followed by 

Powdered Nitrate of Potash 16 ounces 

Quinine 1 " 

Mix and give one tablespoonful three times a day on the ton- 
gue or in the feed. 

ABORTION. 

An abortion is the expulsion of the young before it 
attains sufficient development to live external to its parent 

Saint-Cyr says that it may be acknowledged that abor- 
tion has taken place when the young is expelled in the mare 
before the three hundredth day, in the cow before the two 
hundredth, in the sheep before the hundred and fortieth, and 
in the pig before the one hundredth day. 



MAMMITIS— " CAKED BAG." 209 

The cow and mare are the ones that most frequently 
abort. Causes of abortion are numerous. Irregular seasons, 
cold, when suddenly applied to the skin, may produce it; cold 
nights and warm days has an influence, food of a bad quality, 
the smut of wheat, rye, and corn may produce it ; allowing 
animals to fill themselves with cold water when exceedingly 
thirsty, is another cause. Eue, savin, ergot, opium and digi- 
talis are to be administered with care. Excessive exertion, 
especially if the exertion is sudden and severe, or even moder- 
ate, if coming after a long period of rest ; fright or excitement 
is also liable. Some say that the smell of blood will produce 
abortion, but I do not think the sight or smell of blood, with- 
out fear, would have any bad effect although the nervous excite- 
ment caused by the sight or smell of blood may, and often 
does, produce abortions. Excitement, fear, sudden surprise, 
anger, heavy thunder and certain odors are all fruitful causes 
of abortions. 

Should abortion be produced during the first half of preg- 
nancy, the effect on the mother is scarcely noticeable, but if it 
occurs during the last half, it is more serious, and the mother 
should be looked after for several days, as there are many com- 
plications liable to follow, such as inflammation of the womb, 
prolapsus of the womb, founder, etc. The udder must be 
looked to, as the milk may start and the udder become in- 
flamed or caked, (see mammitis). 

MAMMITIS.—" CAKED BAG." 

This is a common disease and may attack any and all 
domestic animals, however the cow, mare, ewe and goat are 
the ones most often effected. First we have congestion, fol- 
lowed by inflammation, sometimes the whole udder,at others one- 



210 INFLAMMATION OF THE UDDER. 

quarter only is effected. The quantity of milk is diminished, 
and .often has a thick creamy appearance. This disease has 
often been mistaken for inflammation of the udder, from which 
it may be distinguished by the lack of constitutional disturbance, 
as well as the character of the milk. The udder is not so sore 
and tender to the touch as in inflammation. 

Mammitis requires no special care if the animal eats well, 
you are to draw the milk every two hours or allow the calf to 
suck. Smearing the udder twice a day with the following : 
Powdered gum camphor, two drams; hogs laid, two-thirds 
teacup ; melted together, when cool it is ready for use. 

INFLAMMATION OF THE UDDER. 

Though not so common as mammitis this is much more 
severe, and occasionally destroys life in a few days. 

The first symptoms do not differ much from mammitis, 
but in a day or so the animal becomes dull, ceases to ruminate, 
the bag is hard and painful to the touch, the quantity of milk 
diminished, thick, lumpy, and perhaps of a pink or bloody 
color. The prognosis is usually unfavorable. 

TREATMENT. 

The general treatment must be that of inflammation. 
Give a laxative. 

Epsom Salt 8 ounces 

Castor Oil/.. 8 

Warm Water , 1 pint 

To be given at once followed by 15 drop doses of fluid extract 
of aconite alternate with tablespoon doses of nitrate of potash, 
every four hours ; this brings the medic ine two hours apart. 
External Treatment. — Take a piece of cotton cloth one 



INFLAMMATION OF THE UDDER. 211 

yard square, double it together forming a triangle, called a 
support, tie a stout cloth string to the two long ends of the 
support, which are to be tied around over the back in front of 
the udder, four holes are made for the teats and a third long 
string with its center tied to the remainining back point of 
the support ; this forms two strings which are to be brought 
back between the hind legs and crossed over the cow's croup 
and tied to the strings already in place, and tied tight 
enough to support the udder. Now wet sponges or cotton 
cloths in hot water and place them inside of the support, 
keeping the udder warm for 48 hours, then remove and 
smear the udder over with belladonna ointment, or fluid ex- 
tract of belladonna and replace the support, packing it with 
dry cotton batting. Draw the milk every two hours until 
relieved. You may have to repeat the laxative in a few days. 



COLT AND CALF DISEASES. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



ARTHRITIS. 

A JOINT DISEASE OF THE COLT AND CALF. 

Swelling of the joint of young animals soon after birth, 
is confined almost exclusively to the colt. I have met with 
but few cases in other animals, but have seen a great number 
of young colts die of this malady ; This disease affects suckers 
only, consequently it might be inferred that the causes are due 
to an altered condition of the milk, brought about by giving 
non-nutritious food. I have seen colts affected, their dams 
having been fed on all kinds and qualities of food ; hence I 
have come to the conclusion that we must look elsewhere for 
the cause, and have not arrived at any very satisfactory con- 
clusion on this point. 

SYMPTOMS. 

Extreme difficulty in moving, which, perhaps, is the first 
and only observable sign of disease. The young animal will 
get up, suck and lie down again. You will soon notice a 
swelling of the joints, after a few days an amber colored serum 
— then pus begins to show itself through the skin at the joints- 



DIARRHCEA, COLTS AND CALVES. 213 

The animal may live for twenty or thirty days, or longer, but 
recovery is very rare indeed. There is an intense fever, 
breathes quick, appetite impaired and thirst intense. 

Curative treatment of this disease is very unsatisfactory, 
consequently we must turn our attention to the preventative 
treatment. Keep the dam in good condition, feed nothing but 
good nutritious food with an occasional scalded bran mash, 
containing from one-half to one ounce of nitrate of potash and 
a tablespoonful or two of Common salt. During the last months 
that the dam carries a colt the food should be abundant and 
of a succulent nature ; good hay, (not marsh hay and straw,) 
but good hay, free from mildew, moistened a few hours before 
feeding. Give from eight to sixteen pounds of grain a day, 
according to the size and make-up of the animal. It is best 
to work a brood mare a little every day up to a few days of 
foaling ; at least my observations have been that those worked 
do better ; the colts are much stronger and require less care 
than those allowed to remain in idleness. 

DIARRHCEA, COLTS AND CALVES. 

It is useless to enter into a lengthy description of this dis 
ease. There is a peculiar offensive odor to the flees, which is 
perhaps a thin curdle fluid. Diarrhoea is said to be contagious, as 
to this I am not prepared to say, but would recommend the 
separation of the sick from the well ones. 

TREATMENT. 

Give the mother two ounces of tincture of opium and two 
ounces of gin in one-half pint of water, as a drench. Then 
give the colt or calf one or two ounces of castor oil. If the 



214 CONSTIPATION, 

diarrhoea is not checked in twenty-four hours, give the fol- 
lowing : 

Prepared Chalk 1 dram, 

Tincture of Opium % " 

Hydrastis Canadensis 1 " 

Add one egg, mix or stir well together, and give all at once, 
repeat this every twelve hours until relieved. It is a good 
practice to change the mothers food, and both mother and 
young should be kept in a warm, dry, comfortable place. 

RETENTION OF MECONIUM— CONSTIPATION. 

The meconium* is generally expelled immediately atter 
birth, when the umbilicalf circulation is first cut off. The 
prolonged retention of the meconium gives rise to constipation^ 
This occurs more often in the colt than any other domestic 
animal, and is said to be the result of improper 
food, such as overripe hay, straw, or anything deficient in 
nutrative and laxative qualities. 

SYMPTOMS. 

A day or two after birth they become uneasy, refuse to 
suck, make the attempt, but nothing passes the bowels, shows 
symptoms of colic, rolls about, looks at its sides, back arched, 
and grinds its teeth together. These are the average symp- 
toms, which may differ somewhat in the calf. 

TREATMENT. 

The preventative treatment consists in attending to the 
feeding and general health and condition of the mother before 

* That which accumulates in the intestines before birth, 
f Navel. 



KNUCKLING OVER. 215 

foaling. The young should always be fed on the first milk its 
parent gives. Give injections of soap and water or o'l, per 
rectum, removing all the feces that can be reached with the 
finger ; repeat the injections once an hour until relieved. Give 
the mother a physic ball or drench (See Index), and if the 
injections give no relief in an hour or two give 

Castor Oil 2 ounces 

Podophyllin 5 grains 

Fluid Extract Nuxvomica 4 drops 

Mix and give all at once. Twelve hours later give 

Castor Oil 1 ounce 

Hydrastis Canadensis % dram 

And repeat this dose once every 12 hours until relieved. If 
the colt will not suck, milk the mare in a warmed 
vessel, pour it into a warmed bottle and give it to the colt 
quite of cen. 

KNUCKLING OVER. 

WEAK JOINTS IN COLTS AND CALVES. 

Some colts are weak and crooked legged when they first 
come and perhaps walk on their fetlock joint with their feet 
turned back. 

TREATMENT. • 

Prepare two Plaster of Paris Bandages (See Index) two 
and one-half inches wide, then rap the cotton wadding band- 
ages from and including the foot to the knee; have an assistant 
to hold the leg straight while you apply the baudages. Cover 
the foot with both cotton and plaster bandage as the bandage 
is liable to make the pastern sore if terminating above 



216 PERSISTENCE OP THE URACHUS. 

the foot. Be sure to get the leg straight and keep it so until 
the bandage drys. The bandage may be left; on from one to 
six weeks if there are no sores. Sores will be indicated by the 
bandage getting moist or wet, in which case it must be re- 
moved at once, and the leg bathed with white lotion. 

PERSISTENCE OF THE URACHUS. 

LEAKING AT THE NAVEL. 

During the stay of the colt in the mother the urine passes 
through the urachus into the allantois sac. This passage is, or 
should be, cut oft at birth. It appears to be more frequent in 
the male than the female, and is most dangerous in the male ; 
weak colts are the ones most affected. 

TREATMENT. 

First examine the urinary organ to ascertain if the open- 
ing is all right,if not, an opening must be made. After set- 
tling this point take a large pin, a small horse nail or a fine 
wire nail and pass it through the skin and opening, taking a 
good deep hold in the skin, then wind a wrapping twine 
around the pin describing a figure 8. The pin is to be re- 
moved about the fourth day. Apply a good sized blister, using 
the fly blister (See Index) ; do not be afraid to blister a suck- 
ing colt, as is next to an impossibility to blemish a colt with a 
blister. 

UMBILICAL HERNIA. 

RUPTURE, OR BREACH AT THE NAVEL. 

Place the colt on its back and secure it as best you can. 
Then take a common wire nail two inches long (previously 



UMBILICAL HERNIA. '217 

ground sharp at the point) take up all the fold of the skin 
that hangs loose over the rupture, pass the nail through the 
skin and wind a good waxed end around the skin between the 
body and the nail ; wind it tightly so as to cut off all circula- 
tion. The swelling and inflammation closes up the opening, 
and when the part around which the string is tied sloughs off 
the colt is smooth and all right. Should the first operation 
fail do not hesitate to operate again as there is comparatively 
no danger. I have often cut open the sac and sewed up the 
opening, but this requires some practice, and the former way 
is not only successful, but without danger if performed while 
the animal is young. 

THE CALF. 

Is to be operated upon in the same way as the colt, if at all, 
but usually it is not worth bothering with. 



VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



CHAPTER IX. 



STANDARD REMEDIES. 

These remedies are all genuine aDd have proven them, 
selves to be just as recommended. They are no old pocket 
prescriptions that " my grand father used " or that " my father 
always used " but are the standard remedies of to-day formu- 
lated to combat disease and assist nature in the great work she 
has to perform. When nature calls for assistance, she should 
have it at once, this is especially true of all acute diseases and 
the idea of putting obnoxious drugs into the food for a sick 
and debilitated animal to eat is [ too rediculous to talk about. 
Sick animals have little or no appetite and medicine placed 
in their food destroys the little remaining, consequently the 
craft, which is already deprived of her compass, as it were, is 
now, by drugging the food, deprived of her rudder also, thus 
she is lefc to drift for a few days, during which time she is bat- 
tling with the terrific storm that is raging within. The owner 
finally sends for a pilot, but alas, it is too late, she is already on 
the shoal or so near that no mortal man can turn her course? 
her fate is inevitable, she is a wreck, and as the storm lulls- 
she sinks forever or mayhap is left stranded in her now worth 
less condition, when she meets a fate worse than death by fall 



HOW TO GIVE POWDERED MEDICINE. 219 

ing a prey to " sharks ", a class of men who call themselves 
" dealers. " The owner of this poor wreck is anxious to real- 
ize on each and every investment so he exchanges what was 
once a faithful and obedient servant, (now a life wrecked by 
his own carelessness,) for a few paltryfdollars. To such people 
humanity cries shame. When an animal is sick it should 
have medicine at stated intervals and the medicine should not 
be put in the food, but back over the tongue where it will be 
swallowed at once. By the way, I would advise those who 
believe in drugging horse's food, to experiment a little in this 
line when you are a little off and need a physic, for instance, 
instead of getting sugar coated pills, just take a few grains of 
powdered aloes and put it into your evening meal and see how 
much of it you will eat, and then imagiue a heartless tyrani- 
cal keeper who starves you until hunger forces you to eat such 
obnoxious stuff. 

HOW TO GIVE POWDERED MEDICINE. 




CONKEY'S DOSE GUN. [PAT. APPLIED FOR.] 

Medicine should be prepared in small doses, either in the 
powder or liquid form, I usually prepare powdered drugs in 
tablespoon doses as you will readily see by looking over the 
prescriptions, and the above engraving shows an instrument 
which I invented for giving it. This dose gun is constructed 
with a spring in the cylinder so that when the thumb piece is 
drawn back it brings a tension on the spring, at the same 



220 GIVING LIQUID MEDICINE. 

time forming a cavity in the end of the gun which holds a 
spoonful of medicine. The instrument is carefully worked be- 
tween the animals lips touching the roof of its mouth which 
causes it to open it, then you touch the ihumb-piece and the 
medicine is thrown back over the tongue and swallowed. This 
instrument works so nicely that the task of giving medicine is 
mere boys-play. Sent to any address on receipt of $1. Address, 
L. L. CONKEY, V. S. 

6 Canal St., Grand Rapids, Mich. 

GIVING LIQUID MEDICINE. 




[dose syringe.] 

Large quantities of liquid medicine are to be given as a 
drench, which see. The stronger tinctures and extracts are 
best given with the one ounce syringe and should be diluted 
so that one syringe full of the liquid will contain a medicinal 
dose of the drug. The syringe is to be used the same as the 
dose gun. 

HEAVE REMEDIES. 

No. 1. 

Arsenous Acid 3 drams, 

Powdered Willow Carbon 2 " 

Powdered Starch 1 lb. 

Mix thoroughly together and give one tablespoonful three 
times a day in the feed: 



HEAVE REMEDIES. 321 



No. 2. 



Fluid Extract of Digitalis 1 ounce, 

" " " Veratrum Virides 1 " 

" " " Aconite Eoot 1 " 

Water 1 pint. 

Mix and give one tablespoonful three times a day. 

No. 3. 

Tincture Opium : 4 ounces, 

" Ginger 4 " 

" Belladonna 4 " 

Mix and give two tablespoonsful three or four times a day. 

No. 4. 

Fluid Extract Nuxvomica 2 ounces, 

Water 1 pint. 

Mix and give one tablespoonful three times a day in the feed' 

These remedies are all powerful and may take life if given 
in over doses, but if given as directed, no harm can possibly 
come from their use, on the other hand, No. 1 and No. 4 are 
excellent tonics. 

Should you wish to shut the heaves off quickly, give one 
tablespoonful of No. 2, or two tablespoonsful of No. 3 once 
every hour until you have given three or four doses, then do 
not give it so often. (See heaves, page 24.) 

WHITE LOTION. 

Zinc Sulphate 1 ounce, 

Lead Acetate 1 " 

Water 1 quart. 

Mix and apply from once to five times a day, as the case may 
require. 



232 VETERINARY MEDICINE. 

YELLOW LOTION. 

Take of unslacked lime, four pounds; slack it and add 
water to make two gallons, let it settle and pour off the water, 
and add one ounce of corrosive sublimate and it is ready for 
use. This is a splendid remedy for scratches, greese, cracked 
heels, etc. It is much used in the large breeding stables. 

RED UTERINE LOTION. 

Pennanginate of Potash 2 drains, 

"Warm Water ■ 2 gallons. 

The water should be blood warm, and a good way to test the 
degree of warmth, is by introducing your hand into the uterus, 
carrying the rubber injection funnel in with it, and allow the 
hand to remain while the water is being poured in, should it 
feel cool to your hand, have it warmed, or if too warm, have it 
cooled. 

AQUA CORROSIVE LOTION. 

Corrosive Sublimate 1 dram, 

Boiling Water 1 pint. 

Mix, and when cool, is ready for use. This is an excellent 
remedy for sores of all kinds, and is much used for dressing 
poll evil, fistulus, withers, etc. I use it for one or two dress- 
ings in all punctured and lacerated wounds. 

CARBOLIZED OIL. 

Cabolic Acid 1 ounce, 

Sweet or Linseed Oil 1 pint. 

CARBOLIZED WATER. 

Carbolic Acid 1 ounce, 

Water 1 pint. 



VETERINARY MEDICINE. 223 

CARBOLIZED VASELINE. 

Carbolic Acid }4 ounce, 

Vaseline 8 " 

These remedies are used for dressing wounds and old in- 
dolent sores. 

WHITE HEALING POWDER. 

Prepared Chalk 8 ounces. 

Starch 8 

Tannic Acid 1 " 

Sulphate of Zinc % " 

Rub all together in a mortar and can for use. This is an ex- 
cellent dressing for collar galls, greese, scratches and old in- 
dolent sores. It is equally good for man, and has often been 
used in sumach poisoning with favorable results. 

POWDERED BORASIC ACID. 

A splendid dressing for wounds and sores of all kinds 
Sprinkle it over them once or twice a day. 

BLACK POWDER —STYPTIC. 

Powdered Willow Carbon 1 ounce, 

" Gum Arabic 1 " 

" Kosin 1 " 

Mix, and can for use — "Bartrnm." This is used to stop the 
flow of blood. Take a bunch of cotton batting and sprinkle 
it over with the powder, sift a little of the powder over and 
into the wound, and apply the batting, keep it there by means 
of a bandage, or take two or three stitches through the skin, 
drawing the thread down over the cotton. 



224 VETERINARY MEDICINE. 

Iodoform makes an " A No. 1 " dressing for fresh cuts, 
either in man or beast, bathe with cold water until the bleed- 
ing stops, then sprinkle the iodoform over the wound. 

Quinine is a fine dressing for collar galls, and may be 
used with advantage as a dressing in many places. Sprinkle 
the dry puw T der over the moistened wound. — " Paul." 

HARTS-HORN LINIMENT. 

Aqua Ammonia 2 ounces, 

Spirits of Turpentine 2 " 

Sweet Oil 2 

Alcohol 2 

Mix, and bathe the affected parts once or twice a day until 
you have produced a mild blister, then omit for a week and 
repeat. This liniment is used in all mild throat troubles, and 
is often used to warm up the legs in colic and congestions. 
It is also a good liniment for rheumatism, sprains and strains 
in man or beast. 

TURPENTINE DRENCH. 

Kaw Linseed Oil 1 pint, 

Spirits of Turpentine 2 ounces. 

Mix and give all at once as a drench. This drench is espec- 
ially adapted to influenza and colic, also to hasten the action 
of physic, and is intended for the horse and cow of mature 
years. The yearling will require one-fourth ; the two-year-old, 
one-half; the three-year-old, three-fourths ; and the four- year- 
old, a full dose. 



VETERINARY MEDICINE. 225 

LEG AND BODY WASH. 

Ponds Extract of Witch-hazel 1 quart, 

Kain Water 3 " 

Mix. This is one of the best legs and body washes that has ever 
been used on a sj^eed horse, it will not blister or injure the ani- 
mal in any way. It may be used much stronger without in- 
jury, and it is perhaps best to make it equal parts for old 
horses. 

CONDITION POWDERS. 

No. 1. 

■ Powdered Nuxvomica 4 ounces, 

" Ginger 4 " 

Oil Cake Meal 8 " 

Mix and give one tablespoonful three times a day in the feed. 

No. 2. 

Quinine 2 drams, 

Powdered Nitrate of Potash 8 ounces. 

Mix and give one tablespoonful three times a day in the feed. 
COUGH BALL. 

Powdered Opium 1 dram, 

" Digitalis 1 " 

" Gum Camphor 1 " 

Calomel 1 " 

Gum Arabic K " 

Water to make into a stiff mass, to be given all at once as a 
ball and repeated once a day for three days, then omit the cal- 
omel, and continue until you have the desired effect. This is 
admirably adapted for the suppression of heave cough. 



VETERINARY DOSE TABLE. 



Giving a List of Medicines used. 



Abbreviations:— Gr. Grains. Oz. Ounces Dr. Drams. M. Drops. 



HORSE. 



Aconite, Tinct 10 to 20 M. 

Alcohol 1 oz. 

Aloes, Barb 8 to 10 dr. 

Alum 2 to 4 dr. 

Ammonia, Carb 2 to 4 dr. 

Ammonia, Liq. Acit 2 to 4 oz. 

Areca Nut 4 to 6 dr. 

Asafoetida 2 to 4 dr. 

Arsenic 5 to S gr. 

Atropine. % to 1 gr. 

Belladonna, Fl. Ext W 2 to 1 dr. 

Buckthorn ' 

Camphor Gum 1 to 2 dr. 

Castor Oil. 1 pint. 

Catechu 1 to 3 dr. 

Chloral Hydrate % to 2 oz. 

Cod Liver Oil 2 oz. 

Copper Sulphate 1 to 2 dr. 

Croton Oil 

Digitalis, Fl. Ext 10 to 20 M. 

Ergot of Rye, Fl. Ext % to 1 oz. 

Ether, Sul 1 to 2 oz. 

Gentian Root 4 to 8 dr. 

Ginger 4 to 8 dr. 

Hydrastis Canadensis 2 to 4 dr. 

Hemlock, Tinct '2 to 3 oz. 

Iodine Crystal 120 to 60 gr. 

Ipecacuau 1 to 3 dr. 

Iron. Sulphate 1 to 3 dr. 

Iron, Tincture Mure 1 to 2 dr. 

Jaborandi 2 to 4 dr. 

Juniper Oil 1 to 2 dr. 

.Lead, Acetate 1 dr. 

Linseed Oil. R lX i to 1 pint. 

Morphia, Acetate 3 to 10 gr. 

Nux Vomica, Fowd 1 dr. 

Opium, Tinct |ito3 0z. 

Podophjdlin 1 to 2 dr. 

Potash, Iodide Ii to 4 dr. 

Potash, Nitrate \% to r oz. 

Potash, Chlorate I j| to 1 oz. 



COW. 



SHEEP. 



10 to 20 M. 1 2 to 3 M. 

1 to 2 oz. I y 2 oz. 

2 to 2 oz. 4 dr. 

1 to 4 dr. , y 2 dr, 

3 to 6 dr. J % dr. 

2 to 4 oz, 

2 OZ. 

5 to 10 gr. 
]4 to 1 or. 
2 to 3 dr. i y 2 dr. 



HOG. 



2 to 4 dr. 


3° g r - 


1 pint. 


2 to 4 oz. 


2 to 6 dr. 




1 to 2 OZ. 


1 to 3 dr. 


2 to 4 oz. 


1 oz. 


1 to 4 dr. 


10 gr. 


% to 3 dr. 


5 to 10 M. 


10 to 30 M. 




% to I oz. 


1 dr. 


2 to 3 oz. 


2 to 3 dr. 


I to 2 OZ. 


1 to 3 dr. 


I to 2 OZ. 


1 to 2 dr. 


r to 2 oz. 


1 to 3 dr. 


2 to 3 oz. 




30 to 90 gr. 


10 to 20 gr. 


1 to 3 dr. 


30 gr. 


2 to 4 dr. 


20 gr. 


1 to 3 dr. 




2 to 4 dr. 




r to 2 dr. 




t dr. 




1 to 2 pints. 


6 to 8 oz. 


3 to 10 gr. 


% to 2 gr. 


2 to 3 dr. 




1 to 3 oz. 


2 to 6 dr. 


1 to 2 dr. 




2 to 6 dr. 


20 gr. 


1 to 2 oz. 


1 to 2 dr. 


% to I oz. 


20 gr. 



2 dr. 
2 dr. 
% dr. 
Vz dr. 



3° gr. 
2 to 4 oz. 

1 to 3 dr. 
6 dr. 
4gr. 
8 M. 

1 dr. 

2 to 4 dr. 
3° gr. 

30 gr. 



25 gr. 
10 ST. 



2 to 4 dr. 

20 gr. 
30 gr. 
20 gr. 



DOG. 



1 to 2 gr. 
1 dr. 
% dr. 
10 gr. 
6gr. 

% to 1 dr. 



i-3° gr. 
2 M. 

1 to 2 oz. 
6gr. 

1 oz. 

15 gr. 

2 dr. 
4gr. 
4 M. 

Vz dr. 
30 M. 
15 gr. 
15 gr. 
20 M. 
2 dr. 

20 gr. 
5gr. 



1 oz. 
l Agr. 

15 M. 
igr. 
6gr. 
io gr. 
5gr. 



DOSE TABLE, (continued. 



HORSE. 



COW. 



SHEEP. 



Quinine 

Root, Licorice 

Savin Oil 

Strichnine 

Salicylic, Acid 

Strophantus 

Soda, Bicarbonate 

Soda, Hyposulphite 

Salt, Comrnom 

Salt, Epsom 

Salt, Globber 

Sulphur 

S. S. Nitre 

Tannic Acid 

Turpentine, Spts 

Veratrum Viride. PI. Ext. 
Zinc, Sulphate 



. ! i5 to 30 gr. 
. 2 to 4 dr. 
. I3 to 4 dr. 
. 1 1 to 3 gr. 
. ; 1 to 2 dr. 
. I y 2 to 1 dr. 
,J4 to 8 dr. 
. 2 to 4 oz. 

4 to 8 oz. 
, I4 to 16 oz. 

I 
\% to 1 oz, 

I tO 2 OZ. 

l / 2 to 2 dr. 
1 to 2 oz. 
15 to 20 M. 
i to 2 dr. 



30 to 40 gr. 

2 to 4 dr. 

3 to 4 dr. 
2 to 5 gr. 
1 to 2 dr. 
^ to 1 dr. 

\6 to X2dr. 
:2 to 40Z. 
14 to 8 oz. 
8 to 24 oz. 
iio to 30 oz 

I to 2 OZ. 
1 1 to 4 OZ. 

1 to 3 dr. 

1 to 2 oz. 
J20 to 30 M. 

1 to 3 dr. 



6gr. 



y, to 


1 dr. 


Vi to 


1 dr. 


1 to 2 


dr. 


I to 2 


oz. 


2 tO 4 


oz. 


I tO 2 


dr. 


2 tO 4 


dr. 


15 gr- 




1 to 4 


dr. 



*5 gr. 



HOG. 


6gr. 




J4 to 

y 2 to 

1 to 2 

1 to 2 

2 to 4 

1 to 2 

2 tO 4 


1 dr. 
r dr. 
dr. 

OZ. 

oz. 

dr. 
dr. 


15 gr. 
1 to 4 


dr. 


15 gr. 





15 gr. 
15 gr. 
% dr. 
2 dr. 

2 dr. 
20 M. 
5gr- 

Vi dr. 



The foregoing closes are intended for the average horse and cow of 
mature years. A large strong animal will require from % to K more 
while a small one will usually require less. The weanlings %> the 
yearlings }£, the two-year-olds %; the three-year-olds %, and the four- 
year-olds a full dose. 



Peck Bros., Druggists, 129 & 131 Monroe St., Grand Rapids, Mich.^ 
keep a copy of this book on file, and parties wishing medicine can order 
it by mail or otherwise by designating page and disease. I buy of 
them and can recommend them to the public as selling pure drugs at 
living 'prices. 

L. L. CONKEY, V. S. 



This book can be obtained by remitting the 
price, $2.00, to the author. 

DR. Iv. L. CONKEY, V. S., 
Office with Dr, Best, M. D., No. 6 Canal Street, 

Grand Rapid*, Mich., U. S. A_ 



I N 13 i^ X. 



A 

Asthma 24 

A/.oturia 53 

Anasarca 70 

Accidents 152-108 

Abscess 172 

Age as indicated by the teeth. . .177 
Albee, A. N 150 

B 

Breathing 6 

Breached 42 

Bloat, Clover 48 

BOTS: in the Horse 64 

History of 65 

BLOODY Murren 69 

Flux 69 

Bone Spavin 101 

Bog Spavin 125 

BLISTER, The Fly 106 

Mercurial 106 

How to 107 

General Remarks 107 

How often 107 

Swelling 10S 

Accidents, To prevent 108 

Dread of 10S 

The result of 109 

Barbed wire cuts 122 

BANDAGE:Eight tailed 129 

Plaster of Paris 135 

Broken Legs 135 

Bleeding after Castration 155 



c 

Congestion, Lungs 7 

Catarrh 50- 18 

COLIC: 35-172 

Symptoms 36 

Second class 40 

Third " 41 ' 

Fourth " 43 

Fifth " 43 

Sixth " 45 

Constipation 40-214 

Cows Cud 52 

CATHETER: Female 56 

Male 56 

Cough, Chronic 58 

CORNS 82 

Shoeing for 83. 

Coffin Joint Disease 87 

CONTRACTION: 87 

Shoeing for 88 

Canker in the Foot 92 

Curb 105 

Cautory, Actual 109 

Cramps of the Thigh Ill 

Congestion andlnrlamation df'd..H5 

Collar Boil 120 

CAPPED Hock 132 

Elbow 132 

Cock Ankle 139 

CHOKE: Horse 140 

Cow 140 



INDEX. 



CASTKATION '. 142 

Age 143 

Abscess 172 

Accidents 152 

Bleeding after 155 

Bull 158 

Boar 160 

Buck 162 

Cryptorchide 146 

Care after . 157 

Calves 159 

Cat 165 

Colic 172 

Champignon 173 

Clamp 155 

" Powder 156 

" Tongs 157 

Dog 165 

Diseases following 171 

Ecraseur 154 

Flankers 147 

Gangrene 173 

Lamb 163 

Liautard 145 

Maggots following 175 

Preparation for 144 

Ridgling Horse 145 

", Bull 159 

Boar 161 

Season of 144 

Standing 147 

Throwing for 147 

COLT AND CALF DISEASES . . 
Arthritis, Swelled Joints. . .112 

Breached 224 

Constipation 114 

Diarrhoea 113 

Leaking at the Navel 116 



DISTEMPER. (See Influenza.)- 12 

Dog 15 

DRENCH: through the Nose. . . . 22 

The. 22 

Dry Murren 47 

Diabetes 60 

DIARRHCEA, Horses 69 

Cattle , 69 

Colt and Calf 113 

Distention of the Capsular ligm't. 110 



Difficult Urine 126 

Dentistry, the Teeth 176 

Deafness 188 

E 

Eczema 24 

Epilepsy 32 

Ecraseur 154 

EYE, Inflammation of 184 

Opthalmia 185 

Moon Blind 1 85 

Haw Diseased 186 

Warts in 187 

EAR, Warts in 188 

F 

Founder 61 

FOOT, The Horses 76 

Description of 77 

The Right 78 

Cracks in 79 

Corns 82 

Shoeing for Contration 88 

Seaton 89 

Thrush in 91 

Canker : . . . . 92 

Nail in 94 

Gravel in 95 

Quittor in 96 

FJRING IRON, pointed 99 

Feathering 1 06 

Bulb 138 

A Spavin 103-104 

A Curb .105 

Actual Cautory 109 

Fractures 134 

Fly Blown 175 

G 

Greese 60 

Gad Fly 64 

GLANDERS, Acute 71 

Chronic 73 

Goiter 130 

Gangrene 173 

H 

Horse Distemper 16 

Heaves 24 

Hypodermic Syringe 42 

Hoven 48 



INDEX. 



Hollow Horn 50 

Husk in Sheep 66 

Hobbles, (onkey's Pat 151 

HERNIA, Horse 164 

Hog !61 

I 
Inflammation, of the Lungs. ... 8 

INFLUENZA. Horse 12 

Dog • • • • 15 

Sheep 15 

Hog 16 

Irregular Strangles IT 

Itch, Mane and Tail 28 

Injection Funnel 43 

IMPACTION Colon 46 

Rumen 47 

K 

Key to Practice 5 

Kidney Disease 53 

KinsH. L 97 

Knee Bruised 121 

Knuckling 139 



LUNGS, Congestion 7 

Inflammation 8 

Lymphangitis 25 

Lice 30 

LOCK Jaw 33 

Body 33 

Laryngitis 19-51 

Losing the Cud 52 

Lung Worms 66 

LAMENESS, Locating 54-75 

Lithotomy 126 

Laminitis 61 

M 

Milkleg, (See Lympangitis 25 

MANGE, Horse 29 

Dog 30 

Megrims 32 

Maw bound 47 

Merrick, Horace Big Spring, ... 85 

Maggots 175 

Milk Fevers 203 

MEDICINE 218 

Aqua Corrosive Lotion 223 



Borasic Acid 223 

Black Powder-Styptic '2:23 

Ball giving 20 

Cough Ball 225 

Condition Powders 225 

Carbolized Oil 222 

Water 222 

Vaseline 223 

Drench 23 

'" Turpentine 223 

" Through the Nose.... 22 

Dose Table 226 

" Gun 219 

" Syringe 220 

How to give 219 

Healing Powder: White 223 

Heave Remedies 220 

Iodoform dressing 223 

Liniment, Hartshorn 223 

Leg wash 223 

Quinine dressing 223 

Uterine Tincture 207 

Red Lotion 222 

White Lotion 221 

Yellow 222 

N 

Neurotomy, Nerving 86 

NAVICULAR Disease 87 

Arthritis 89 

NEEDLE, Seaton 89 

Nail in the Foot : 94 

o 

Ossified Lateral Cartilage 85 

Open Parotid Duct 124 

O'Brien, P. H 150 

OBSTETRICS. 189 

AFTER BIRTH retention 206 

Imprisoned 207 

Abortion 208 

Apoplexy 203 

BAG Caked 209 

Inflammation of 210 

Disowning its young 205 

EMBROYOTOMY 195 

Instruments for 193 

Remarks 199 

PRESENTATION Breach 19s 



Natural 193 

Head back 195 

Tumultuous Labor 200 

WOMB. Spasms of 201 

Inflammation of 202 

Induration, Mouth of 201 

Free Martins 191 

GESTATION, Period of 1S9 

Bitch 190 

Cat 190 

Cow 189 

Care during 192 

Mare 189 

Pig 190 

Sheep and Goat 190 

Twins 191 



Pulse of Animals 5 

Pleurisy 9 

Pluro-pneumonia 11 

Physic, Ball 11 

Drench 22 

Remarks on.., 23 

How often 23 

Bad results 23 

Superpurgation 23 

Paralysis 53 

Purpura Htemorhagica 56 

Pearl Geo 6(3 

POULTICE, Oil cake Meal 82 

Wood Ashes 97 

Pointing the feet 87 

Proud Flesh 119 

Poisoned Wounds 122 

Pockets in Wounds 124 

Poll Evil 137 

Q 

QUARTER CRACK 79 

Treatment 80 

Quitter. 96 

R 

Respiration 6 

Ruminating 52 

RINGBONE False 97 

True 98 

Rheumatism Ill 

Rumenotomy 126 



Roaring 129 

Rose, Dr. Wm 151 

RIDGLING, Horse 145 

Bull 159 

Boar 161 

RUPTURE, Horse 164 

Colt 165 

Hog 161 

s 

Spasms of the diaphragm 11 

Strangles 16 

" Irregular 17 

Surfeit 28 

Sunstroke 31 

Staggers 32 

Skin Diseases 24-28 32 

Stoppage of water 53 

Sling, The 56 

Scratches 59 

Scouring on the Road 68 

Swelled Legs 70 

" Sheath 70 

Skeleton of the Horse 74 

SHOE, Three-quarter 84 

Tip 88 

Spring Heeled 89 

Side Line and Twist ioo 

SPAVIN, Bone 101 

Particular 104 

Bog 125 

SWELLING 206 

After blister 108 

STIFLE Joint 110 

Out of Joint 112 

Splint, The 113 

Sweeny 114 

Surgery 115 

Sewing up Wounds 118 

Speedy Cuts 121 

Scabs on Wounds 123 

Shoe Boil 132 

String Halt 133 

SPAYING, The Mare 165 

Cow 166 

Heifer 166 

Sow 167 

Bitch 170 

Needle 169 

Schirrous Cord 173 



Temperature 5 

Thermometer 5 

Thumps 11 

Trismus and Tetanus 33 

Trocar and Canula 49 

Three-quarter Shoe 84 

Thrush........ 91 

Twist and Side Line 100 

Tracheotomy .-128 

THROWING HORSES 147 

Farmer Miles 148 

Conkey 149 

Accidents in 152 

TEETH, The 176 

Conker's Forceps 183 

Milk ITS 

General remarks on 179 

Ulcerated 180 

Symptoms of bad 180 

Wolf 181 

Dressing ' 181 

Lampas 18:2 

Refusing to eat 183 



Trephine 182 



U 



URINE, Profuse. 

Difficult 

Bloody 



60 
.126 
.126 



V 

Vertigo 32 

W 

Wolf in the Tail 4" 

WORMS, Lung, in Sheep 

Horses 

Calves and Pigs 

WOUNDS 

Sewing up 

Punctured 

Contused 

Poisoned (Snake Bite) .... 

Barbed Wire 

Pockets in 

Parotid Duct 

Whistling. 

Warts 



-50 

(Hi 

67 

67 

117 

118 

119 

120 

121 

122 

124 

124 

129 

138 



Surgical Instruments. 



All Instruments recommended in this work will be 
sent on receipt of price, of which, a list can be obtained 
b y addressing, 

DR. L. L. CONKEY, V. S. 

6 Canal Street, Grand Rapids, Mich. 



PECK'S DRUG STORE. 

GOOD HORSES NEED GOOD MEDICINES. 
SICK HORSES SHOULD HAVE THE BEST. 

PECK'S DRUG STORE. 

We make a specialty of preparing all the 
various mixtures and combinations for veterinary 
surgeons. Our facilities for compounding are of 
the best. Our purchases of veterinary supplies 
are from first hands, thereby avoiding risks of 
adulteration. Our instrument department is 
very complete, and we hope the patrons of this 
valuable book will call on us when requiring any 
article or recipe that may be mentioned therein. 
In conclusion, we would say that we take the 
front rank in the general drug line, and if Peck 
cannot supply you, there is but little use of 
^oing further. Prices always reasonable, and 
polite attention, to which every one is entitled, 
extended to one and all. « 

PECKS DRUG STORE, 

Cor. Monroe and Division St., Grand Rapids, Mich. 



